UFC Striking Strategy - SBartlett's Blog

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UFC Striking Strategy Stuck

Posted on April 6, 2012 at 11:38 AM.

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A superman punch lands sending your sworn enemy into the stun state. Your controller rumbles with each connecting rock to the face. The cameras flash, and the victor emerges, the referee raising your hand to the sky. A win in UFC Undisputed 3 can be exhilarating. And it is all the more gratifying in a tacitly fought match.

When Greg Jackson talks about the decision tree, he is referring to giving your fighter a myriad of options to execute moves from certain positions. It involves chess-player�s mentality to always have multiple escape routes. The same goes for your controls. When stand-up striking in UFC Undisputed 3, be conscious of the combos your fighter can throw. Some moves have stronger tendencies to cut eyebrows or split open cheeks that will deplete enemy stamina fast; but throw them at your own risk. Certain signature power kicks and punches take longer to execute, and can be interrupted more easily by opponents. Know when to throw your power punches (after an opponent leaves himself open on his own missed power punch or kick.)

The decision tree can also work to your advantage on defense. Learning your fighter�s strengths and full list of animations allows you to call up counters on the fly. Learning which strikes your fighters possess, the power ratings they pack, and which strikes can counter your opponents moves sets will earn you a victory in the stand up game. For example, GSP�s spinning heel kick has the reach and power to interrupt a superman punch or a vicious Jon Jones spinning elbow. Be conscious of what the opponent likes to do, and which power animations can extend their reach beyond the normal throws. Some signature animations will expand a fighter�s reach in comparison to the uniform punch and kick animations assigned to every fighter.

Playing along with a Street Fighter theme, let�s talk framerate. Each animation can take multiple frames to execute, and this applies to UFC 3 as well. In SF, linking animations together requires a strong feel for how long a strike takes to play out, and at what precise moment you can branch out of the animation to start your next move. UFC 3 applies very technical punch animations. The punches execute with full extension; firing off combos of the same punch is difficult, but can be utilized with the quicker throws of jabs and crosses. These are easy. It becomes more difficult when you try to go high-low, jab, kick.

Think about it from a real fighter�s perspective: the jab, cross combinations are the most natural because of the hip action on each punch. The natural torque for one punch creates a wind-up for the off-hand to follow. It works the same in the game. Going from left to right with your strike combos will increase your speed, albeit minutely. But, each frame is vital before your opponent can put his gloves up so it will help you to land a few extra shots to try and pop out that mouth guard of his.

Since many fighters have the same basic strikes, all you have to do is get a feel for the fighter�s speed and positioning. A strike that glances off an opponent�s brow can be combined with another strike much faster. Conversely, a strike that fully connects, illustrates a slightly longer animation. Get comfortable on your fighter�s own toes and learn the length and accuracy of punches and you will be able to piece together combos more seamless. I like to top off a quick strike combo with a power strike at the end. Hopefully these tips help drop your adversaries to the cold, unforgiving canvas.

As Sun Tzu said, "If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles."