First rule of the Octagon, don’t talk about the Octagon. But seriously, walking in with your head up and your hands down will quickly lead to you getting knocked out. You might be able to pull off some flash knockouts, but the lack of strategy will have you on the mat in no time. Any plans of attack you might have learned from WWE Smackdown vs. Raw or Fight Night won’t apply here either. The UFC is an entirely different beast. Doing your homework before a fight will pay dividends by the time the bell sounds. So here’s what you can do to improve your record.

Matchups

No matter what your skill level, certain matchups will hurt your chances of winning. Wrestlers are more likely to be bruisers who are looking to knock fighters out when they are on their back or feet. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters are dangerous from any position, and especially dangerous when it comes to the submission game. Judo is like a mix of both, working in takedowns and submissions but losing some of translation from each one. You also need to be aware of height and reach advantages, as they come into play in UFC 2009 Undisputed.

It may be tough to remember the pros and cons of every style. If you aren’t sure if your fighting style fits your opponent, try and fight someone with the same style as your chosen fighter. That way the most important thing is your experience, rather than knowing whether or not your kickboxing wrestler would lose to a boxing jiu-jitsu practitioner. Just watch out for Georges St. Pierre (probably the most versatile fighter in the game).

Feel Them Out

The worst mistake you can make inside the Octagon is to start throwing haymakers as soon as you’re unleashed from your corner. While each fighter has a combination of fighting styles, each individual you face will approach each match differently. While you might feel the need to come out with guns blazing, don't forget that there are multiple rounds for you to throw bombs in. The key here is to use the first round to see what your opponent does while not exposing your own tendencies.

Your opponent might also let up in the second round, thinking that he can toy with you. This is when you strike. If your adversary likes to throw a jab-straight combo, you’re ready to counter with a clinch or a takedown. If he goes for the takedown often, keep your distance before launching your offense or be ready to sprawl. While everyone loves a knockout, taking it to the scorecards counts just the same in the record books.

Go for the Takedown Early

This tip is for more accomplished players who aware of their opponent’s lack of polish. In my experiences online, many people are unfamiliar with the ground game. You can end a match early if you take your opponent down, get into mount position and begin the ground and pound. New players will assuredly go for the impact strikes, at which point a takedown is easy to achieve.

But watch out, a 0-0 online record doesn’t necessarily mean you’re facing a new player. I know plenty of people who have spent time in the career mode crafting their skills in order to test their might online.


Losing is inevitable in the UFC. This isn’t like boxing where you need a 45-1 record to make the big money; every UFC veteran has some losses under his belt. These three steps won’t give you a flawless record, but following them will definitely improve your game.

Check back next week for Jack Hoeffel’s tips for UFC Undisputed 2009.