IGN.com Rates UFC Fighters in UFC 2009: Undisputed

by Rundownloser on Nov 26, 2008 1:44 PM EST Comment 35 comments

Promoted to the front page from the FanPosts by Luke Thomas.

In a recent article on IGN.com, they rated the top-10 P4P best UFC fighters that are already confirmed for THQ's UFC 2009: Undisputed (the one which caused the now infamous incident with Fitch and AKA). Here's their list (to see the reasoning behind their picks, click here):

10- Brock Lesnar

9- Michael Bisping

8- Matt Hughes

7- Chuck Liddell

6- Wanderlei Silva

5- Forrest Griffin

4- Kenny Florian

3- Quinton Jackson

2- BJ Penn

1- Anderson Silva

In addition, they note that they Roger Huerta and Joe Stevenson almost made the cut. Now for those of you that instantly want to tear this list apart, do note that they include the disclaimer that the list is only comprised of fighters so far confirmed for the game (apparently a paltry twelve, says the article), rather than all fighters within the UFC's roster. On the next few pages, they go through the fighters regardless of whether or not they have been confirmed for the game. Altogether, it's a very sound list (to see the reasoning behind their picks, click here):

10- Forrest Griffin

9- Kenny Florian

8- Dan Henderson

7- Thiago Alves

6- Quinton Jackson

5- Jon Fitch

4- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

3- BJ Penn

2- Georges St. Pierre

1- Anderson Silva

However, this article is more than just some inane ranking permutation from some dude on Sherdog. IGN.com is one of the biggest and most heavily trafficked videogame-focused sites on the web. Here is their about us page:

IGN Entertainment, a unit of Fox Interactive Media, Inc., is a leading Internet media and services provider focused on the videogame and entertainment enthusiast markets. IGN's properties collectively attract more than 31 million unique monthly users worldwide. Our network of videogame-related properties (IGN.com, GameSpy, FilePlanet, TeamXbox, 3D Gamers, Direct2Drive and others) is the web's number one videogame information destination and attracts one of the largest concentrated audiences of young males on the Internet. We also own and operate the popular movie-related website, Rotten Tomatoes, and one of the leading male lifestyle websites, AskMen.com. In addition, we provide technology for online game play in videogames.

This isn't the first time that IGN.com has covered the UFC in depth. In recent weeks, IGN.com has put together two articles about UFC 91 (one preview and one after action report). They even had an article in August that traced the UFC belt from the beginning to now. Said article even used it as evidence of Fedor's supremacy. Lastly, all of these articles, sans the belt leniage one, were at one point or another on the front page.

The point is this: with articles like these and a monthly readership upwards of 31 million people, I'm convinced that the UFC is poised to make major inroads via UFC 2009. I don't mean to suggest that IGN.com is the end-all-be-all of press attention. However, it is a whole bunch of eyes, many of which will be rather unfamiliar to the subject of MMA. Additionally, the amount of hype this game is getting is pretty impressive, especially considering the fact that the preceding titles are so disreputable. If this amount and quality of coverage continues it could drive anticipation for this game way up. Given IGN.com's stature, we could expect to see greater coverage in like-minded sites, including those that are part of the IGN.com family. Altogether, this bodes very well for the possible sales figures for the game.

Amid all this talk of mainstream coverage being central the the UFC's success, the UFC 2009 videogame's ability to increase the UFC's visibility and brand recognition (let alone brand preference) has been greatly understated and underreported. If this game is good, it could go a long way toward solidifying the UFC's hold on MMA in way not yet fully explored by the chattering class that is the MMA Blogosphere. Hopefully this fanpost allows us to rectify the situation. And, if you need to, critique the lists presented at the beginning.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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Read More: ign.com, ufc, ufc undisputed 2009

Comments

Miguel Torres

must curse his fast metabolism.

by EazyEismydad on Nov 26, 2008 8:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know if I’d consider IGN as any indicator for UFC growth or popularity. At this point I’m willing to bet the audiences for IGN and UFC are very similar, the core demographic of 18-25 year old males.
There is a reason why when SpikeTV advertises it’s first a UFC event commercial then a game commercial.

The game will be a big hit though, the UFC has put a lot of effort into making sure the game is not a turd like the first one (famous last words) and with the crossover in demographics you can be a lot of people will be buying the game. If anything the game will help the UFC stay on the plus side of the books because gaming in a lot of respects isn’t as sensitive to the economy as other entertainment and if the game sells well they’ll likely make some pretty good bank.

by pr0cs on Nov 26, 2008 9:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It is a sign of the growing sport of MMA and specifically the brand identity of the UFC. There have been several UFC games before and none of them have garnered anywhere near the attention that this one is getting. More than that, it has stirred an increase in coverage from the site that goes well beyond the game itself which is the sort of thing that makes this important.

Also, though the 18-25 male demographic is certainly the UFC’s bread and butter, UFC 2009 will undoubtedly do well with the younger crowd too. The videogame will have an easier time getting into their hands than a UFC PPV.

by Rundownloser on Nov 26, 2008 1:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So far THQ and the UFC have officially announced just a dozen fighters for UFC 2009 Undisputed, but that didn’t do anything to discourage us from opening the discussion as to which of the game’s featured fighters is the best pound-for-pound competitor.

I saw this yesterday and didn’t think too much of the lists. Honestly I see it as IGN capitalizing off the popularity of the UFC (which is smart of them). But to create a top ten list with only twelve fighters… dunno. It’s saying, “Let’s write something about the UFC so the googlers come to our site.”

As for the game itself, I think people overstate the role that a game will be in getting new fans. I believe that, barring crazy Tetris-like playability, the people who buy this game will already be fans. A couple may become fans after playing, but I seriously doubt too many people will be buying the game if they aren’t a fan already. There are just too many other choices out there.

Beyond that, I’ll wait to see the gameplay.

by mythbuster on Nov 26, 2008 10:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well depends entirely on your definition of FAN. I think the more casual fan that games will probably buy the game and perhaps be more inclined to buy a PPV (outside any normal time they’ll buy a PPV) if they recognize fighters that they enjoy using in the game. The game can be a gateway into the UFC getting more PPV buys, more merchandise buys, etc.
It will be impossible to quantify it but my anecdotal evidence suggests that my more casual friends will be buying the game and if anything the game will be increasing the UFCs mindshare. Already there is only one MMA (to the more casual fan),games and media like this further cements that.

by pr0cs on Nov 26, 2008 10:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good point

(iiowyn too) That’s how I originally got interested in WWE, from playing a game at a friends house. I still don’t think it will make a large difference, but I see how it could bring in some new fans.

by mythbuster on Nov 26, 2008 10:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thats just what I was going to say. I stayed connected to the WW(F)E because they used to produce really fun games. I’m sure it had at least a little something to do with the WW(F)E PPVs I did purchase.

by Day Man on Nov 26, 2008 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think that the people who buy the game are most likely already fans, but the people they play with might not be. So the possibility of bringing in new fans is still there, similar to how a PPV can generate new fans just by them coming by to hang out and getting hooked.

by iiowyn on Nov 26, 2008 10:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So Madden doesn’t help create football fans?

by bigweeze on Nov 26, 2008 11:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’d say I’d have to agree with this. games like Madden and Blitz got me into football (or at least I have a better appreciation for the sport now). To put that into perspective, I used to kind of hate football. It was too erratic for me.

by Gong on Nov 26, 2008 3:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Two points that need to be made:

(1) The UFC has already cornered the 18-25 or 18-34 male demographic, however you want to look at it. If I meet someone within that group who doesn’t at least have a basic knowledge of MMA or the UFC, I’m shocked. What the UFC is going to be doing here is capturing the younger fans who might not be pumping money into the sport now but will in a few years time. Teenagers love video games. A lot of kids in the 12-17 demo have already jumped on board and become UFC fans but probably not as much as their older counterparts. This video game will lock in a younger group of fans who will become the future target demo for the sport. That is something worth noting.

(2) This video game is going to turn some casual fans into hardcores. And, more importantly, it is going to make certain casual fans who maybe only know names like Liddell, Hughes, and Lesnar and make them aware of names Alves, Fitch, Swick, and Florian. This game, more than anything else, is going to elevate the popularity and awareness of the entire roster. This means guys who previously were talented but not huge draws will become draws.

This is huge.

by dropkick101 on Nov 26, 2008 10:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you sir...but

How the hell is Kenny Florian ahead of Forrest Griffin, Chuck Liddell, or Wanderlei Silva on any ranking list of any kind?

I’m thinking some of these boys should stick to World of Warcraft and maybe hire Luke to write their articles when it comes to the MMA stuff.

by Gunslinger20 on Nov 26, 2008 10:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The lists can easily be ignored. I believe they were created to catch google hits rather than be realistic.

by mythbuster on Nov 26, 2008 11:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think their UFC p4p list is entirely off. I would probably rank it as follows:

1. Anderson Silva
2. Georges St. Pierre
3.. BJ Penn
4. Minotouro Nogueira
5. Forrest Griffin
6. Jon Fitch
7. Thiago Alves
8. Rampage Jackson
9. Kenny Florian
10. Lyoto Machida

by dropkick101 on Nov 26, 2008 11:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would probably place Rampage over Alves and Fitch

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Nov 26, 2008 12:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That argument can be made but based on the streak Alves has been on along with the level of talent he’s defeated (Karo, Hughes, Koscheck) within his division, plus Fitch’s streak combined with the fact that he beat Alves, I would give Alves and Fitch the slight nod over Rampage.

by dropkick101 on Nov 26, 2008 12:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My reasoning for Rampage being over Alves and Fitch was the fact that Rampage has held belts in the UFC and in Pride.

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Nov 26, 2008 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

With all due respect to Chuck and Wanderlei, Kenny is on a six fight win streak within his division. Chuck and Wanderlei have each lost three out of their past four fights. There’s no doubt as to the significance of Chuck and Wand to the entire sport and their legacies will go down in history, but as of right now, I can definitely see IGN.com’s point.

As to Forrest, I don’t know. Forrest just beat the two top fighters in the division and won the belt along the way.

by dropkick101 on Nov 26, 2008 11:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I like hamburgers…

by cyph on Nov 26, 2008 12:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, people are stuck thinking of 18-34. I first played the UFC videogame on Dreamcast when I was pretty young.

by bigweeze on Nov 26, 2008 11:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I couldn’t agree more. Each of these articles are well written and do a great job of bridging the gap between casual and hardcore. I think that’s where this sort of coverage and the game itself will do the most.

by Rundownloser on Nov 26, 2008 1:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That (2) is a quote from dropkick101’s post above.

by Rundownloser on Nov 26, 2008 1:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Was this really published?

by Gunslinger20 on Nov 26, 2008 10:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

What do you mean?

by Rundownloser on Nov 26, 2008 1:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The more, the merrier. Tell me again why GSP/Penn II can’t do a million buys.

by subo on Nov 26, 2008 12:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Many people may choose to save the couch sitting, beer drinking, etc.. for the Superbowl.

by bigweeze on Nov 26, 2008 1:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I visit IGN daily

Its a pretty good site. Right now they’re having a hottest chick election/tourney ;)
http://microsites.ign.com/babe_election/index.html

Anyway, I had 4 of my buddies (2 MMA casual fans and 2 clueless) that love and buy every yearly release of Raw VS Smackdown so I pointed their attn to this game and they are indeed now interested in this. They’re probably going to go buy it with me. Safe to say it will make new MMA fans. Also agree with the person who said this game will probably make a lot of casuals into hardcores.

by xFenixKnightx on Nov 26, 2008 12:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Using their “Linear Championship” idea, the UFC champions from Heavyweight to Lightweight are as follows: Fedor Emelianenko (265), Renzo Gracie (205), Brock Lesnar (185), Lyoto Machida (170), and Lyoto Machida (155).

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Nov 26, 2008 1:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs