Crave Entertainment today unveiled the fighter line-up for its two upcoming next-generation system titles, "UFC: Tapout" for the Xbox(tm) video game system from Microsoft and "UFC: Throwdown" for the PlayStation(r)2 computer entertainment system. Each game will include more
than 25 actual UFC fighters with gameplay moves tailored to reflect the fighters' individual techniques.
"The Ultimate Fighting Championship has become a showcase for today's top mixed-martial arts athletes," said Holly Newman, Executive Vice President at Crave Entertainment. "We have worked with the fighters to capture their signature moves and in-the-octagon style in order to fully realize the UFC sport in a virtual environment."
"I was amazed by the Dreamcast UFC; it was just a step away from being real," said Tito Ortiz, current Light Heavyweight Champion of the UFC. "The Xbox version of this game is going to be unbelievable. I sat down at E3 [Electronic Entertainment Expo] and watched the clips they had, and it was even more amazing."
Crave monitored and captured each fighter on video to ensure his full fighting arsenal will be available to game players. The developers are gathering the fighters' input and watching every match in order to recreate real UFC fights, executing moves in the games just as they might play out in real life.
The cast of athletes features members of every weight class, including current Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz; Welterweight Champion Carlos Newton; and Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver. Along with these titleholders, the UFC games will boast every major contender and some UFC legends, including Frank Shamrock and Dan Severn. This is the complete list of fighters in the upcoming UFC videogames:
The following fighters will appear on both Xbox and PlayStation 2:
Jeremy Horn
Kevin Randleman
Pedro Rizzo
Evan Tanner
Marco Ruas
Mark Coleman
Tsuyoshi Kosaka
Chuck Liddell
Maurice Smith
Pat Miletech
Tito Ortiz
Bas Rutten
Mikey Burnett
Frank Shamrock
Gary Goodridge
Guy Mezger
Pete Williams
Eugene Jackson
Jens Pulver*
Caol Uno*
Josh Barnett*
Mark Kerr*
Dan Severn*
The following fighters will appear in "UFC: Tapout" for Xbox:
Matt Hughes
Andre Roberts
Ron Waterman
Tim Lajcik
The following fighters will appear in "UFC: Throwdown":
Carlos Newton*
Elvis Sinosic*
BJ Penn*
John Lewis*
Vitor Belfort*
*Indicates fighters making their videogame debut
"UFC: Tapout" is scheduled for release in November and "UFC: Throwdown" is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2002.