Learn how to create unforgettable gameplay moments with these in-depth UFC 5 tips and tricks. Get a competitive edge and take your stick skills to a whole new level.

Image of cover star Israel Adesanya standing in the Octagon making a beckoning motion with the UFC 5 and Ultimate Edition logos.

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UFC 5 Tips & Tricks

Striking Offense

Punches

Kicks

Spinning Strikes

Strike Vulnerability

Clinch Offense

Combinations

Simplified Controls

Running Strikes

Striking Defense

Catch Kicks

Blocking Strikes

Head Movement

Lunges

Block & Guard Breaks

Strike Vulnerability: Defense

Clinch Defense

Ground Offense

Standing Takedown

Ground and Pound Offense

Transitions

Grapple Assist

Ground Defense

Defending Transitions

Defending Takedowns

Transition Cancels

Ground & Pound Defense

Stamina & Health

Stamina

Health

Damage Icons

Submissions

Submission Defense

Submission Slams

Submission Counters

Submission Strikes

Submission Offense

Submission Chains

Stamina Effects

Flying Submissions

Xbox

PlayStation®

Base Game

Alter Egos: Origins (Israel Adesanya, Alexander Volkanovski, Valentina Shevchenko, Conor McGregor, Leon Edwards)

Origins Vanity Bundle (22 Items)

5x Online Career Mode XP Boosts

Mike Tyson

Fedor Emelianenko

Muhammad Ali

UFC Legends (Kevin Randleman, Jens Pulver) Alter Egos: Prime (Tony Ferguson, Nate Diaz, Donald Cerrone, Cody Garbrandt, Eddie Alvarez)

Alter Egos: PRIDE (Shogun Rua, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, Nick Diaz, Alistair Overeem)

Ultimate Edition

5x Origins Alter Egos (Conor McGregor - 2013, Israel Adesanya - 2017, Alexander Volkanovski - 2011, Valentina Shevchenko - 2014, Leon Edwards - 2015)

Deluxe Edition

Isreal-New Zealand Fighter Israel Adesanya graces the cover art for deluxe edition cover for UFC 5

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Standard Edition

Alexander Volkanovski and Valentina Shevchenko graces the cover for UFC 5 standard edition keyart. 

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What makes an MMA fight? It’s the stakes, technique, drama, and pure reality of the moment. UFC 5 captures that in more authentic detail than ever before, from next-generation graphics upgrades that give gameplay animations new life, damage systems that marry the brutality and strategy of the fight game, gameplay updates that make the action feel even more fluid and realistic, and much more.

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REAL IMPACT SYSTEM

For the first time in franchise history, the Frostbite™ engine powers EA SPORTS UFC, bringing unrivaled graphics upgrades for console games. Cinematic K.O. Replay showcases UFC’s significant presentation updates in truly innovative fashion.

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PRESENTATION

Updates include fresh Fight Week content, features, and challenges that are updated monthly around real-world UFC events. Online Career mode brings skill-based matchmaking, division progression, and title chases across four divisions.

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GAME MODES

UFC 5 Reveal Logo White

Sports

UFC 5 cover fighter Israel Adesanya in front of an arena with the UFC 5 logo and ultimate edition branding.

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†Offers may vary or change. See retailer site for details.

^ Offers may vary or change. See retailer site for details

*Conditions &amp; restrictions apply. See [https://www.ea.com/games/ufc/ufc-5/offer-disclaimers](/games/ufc/ufc-5/game-disclaimers) for details.

**Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See [EA Play terms](https://www.ea.com/legal/ea-play-terms) for details.


Fighter Israel Adesanya with the UFC 5 official logo. 

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UFC 5 Reveal Trailer

Watch the full UFC 5 Reveal trailer here.

#UFC5 #Reveal

UFC 5 Official Reveal Trailer

Camera view looking at the back of Valentina Shevchenko as shes entering the arena passing crowds on both sides. 

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Camera view looking at the back of a fighter as they are about to enter the cage for a match

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Overhead view of the cage as 2 fighters are about to begin a match

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Israel Adesanya holding the edge of the ring as he prepares himself for

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Birds eye view of the entire arena with a full audience

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 EA SPORTS™ UFC 5

Pick up the Ultimate Edition and get multiple Alter Ego Bundles (including from Pride and Prime drops), 3 new Legends fighters, and more.

Buy Now

EA SPORTS™ UFC® 5 Ultimate Edition Sales

Sales

Begin your UFC 5 journey with the Ultimate Edition, packed with more fighter content than ever, including Hall of Fame Alter Egos, 15 newly rostered fighters, and more.

EA SPORTS™ UFC® 5 Ultimate Edition

Advertising

Get the EA SPORTS UFC 5 Ultimate Edition to stack your roster with fighters and Alter Egos.

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Check out 4 new Alter Egos from the World Extreme Cagefighting era and add them to your roster today. 

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New Alter Egos

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Building Grapple Advantage while on top of your opponent occurs by landing small strikes with ^X^ or ^Y^ and by denying your opponent from Transitioning with ^RT^+^LSALL^ or ^RSALL^. Grapple Advantage will allow your fighter to transition quickly making it difficult for your opponent to defend the transition.

**Inputs:**

Strikes: ^X^ or ^Y^

Defend Transitions: ^RT^+^RS^ or ^LS^


UFC 5 in game screenshot showing practice session where a fighter is building grapple advantage on their opponent.

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Building Transition Grapple Advantage


Takedown Judo Reversals can be completed by holding ^RB^+^LT^+^RT^. The timing for this reversal is very quick and if the input is too late, there will be no denial of the takedown. If your fighter does not have a Judo Reversal in their move set, you will get a normal denial instead.

**Inputs:**

^RB^+^LT^+^RT^


UFC 5 in game screenshot showcasing the judo reversal technique against a takedown.

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Judo Reversals


Momentum Transitions are specific transitions which combine with one another when used in sequential order. They are transitions that when used, will transition as fast as possible allowing your fighter use a transition as if you had full Grapple Advantage. An example of Momentum Transition is when your opponent puts you into their Rubber Guard, your fighter will have a fast transition to Stacked Guard. There are over 40 different combinations of Momentum Transitions to find. 


UFC 5 in game screenshot practice session where one fighter is practicing momentum transition on an opponent. 

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Momentum Transitions


To defend any takedown, hold ^RT^+^LT^ when your opponent attempts a takedown.

**Inputs:**

^RT^+^LT^


UFC 5 in game screenshot showing the technique for denying takedowns.

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Denying Takedowns


Grapple Advantage controls the speed of your transitions. Grapple Advantage is shown on the Red and Blue bar located at the top of your screen during gameplay. You gain and lose Grapple Advantage with every strike, transition, or movement of your fighter. 


UFC 5 in game screenshot showing control scheme for how to control grapple advantage.

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Grapple Advantage


Grapple Assist is available in Online play but may put your fighter at a disadvantage due to the predictability of the transitions, especially at higher levels. It is recommended to play with Hybrid or Legacy Grapple HUD in Online play. You can change the setting inside Gameplay Settings from the Main Menu. 


UFC5 in game menu screenshot showing how to turn on grapple assist in settings.

UFC5_grapple_assist_online

Grapple Assist Online


Building Grapple Advantage on the ground occurs when you defend transitions, have momentum from a previous transition, or land strikes on the ground. You also gain some when the opponent is mid-strike on the ground. Attempt transitions when your Grapple Advantage is high to increase your chance of success. 


UFC 5 in game screenshot showing controls for how to build grapple advantage.

UFC5_build_grapple_adv

Building Grapple Advantage


You can defend transitions on the ground as both the Dominant and Submissive fighter. When your opponent is attempting a transition, you must hold ^RT^ and match the direction of their movement with ^RSALL^ or ^LSALL^. If you match the direction quickly enough you will deny their transition.

**Inputs:**

Hold ^RT^ and use ^LS^ or ^RS^ in the direction your opponent is moving.


UFC 5 in game screenshot where one fighter is pinning the others down, and there's controls showing how to defend against transitions.

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How to Defend Transitions


Defensive Grapple Assist is an option in Gameplay Settings which shows the direction you must move to with ^RS^ or ^LS^. To defend a Transition, Submission, or Getup, hold ^RT^ and when your opponent attempts to transition, an arrow will appear on the screen informing you which way to push ^RS^ or ^LS^. These arrows will not appear on Legendary difficulty or in Online matches.

**Inputs:**

^RT^+^RSALL^ or ^LSALL^


UFC 5 in game screenshot showing the gameplay setting for defense grapple assist turned on.

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Defensive Grapple Assist


The Hybrid Grapple HUD allows your fighter to use ^LS^ to select a Grapple Assist Goal and also use ^RS^ to use the Legacy Grapple HUD. Since the position of the goals on the Grapple Assist HUD never change, you can easily select one very quickly without having to navigate through every step to reach that goal as with the Legacy Grapple HUD.

**Inputs:**

^RS^ for Legacy Grapple

^LS^ for Grapple Assist


UFC 5 in game screenshot showing how to turn on hybrid grapple settings.

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Hybrid Grapple HUD


Use ^LSUP^ for your closest Getup. Use ^LSRIGHT^ for your closest Ground and Pound position. Use ^LSLEFT^ for your closest Submission. Hold ^LB^ to transition to your highest level Submission or best Ground and Pound position.

**Inputs:**

^LSUP^ ^LSLEFT^ LSRIGHT^


UFC 5 in game screenshot with UI on where controls assist show how to do grapple controls.

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Grapple Assist Controls


Quick reaction to a Takedown will lead you to a totally dominant clinch position. A late Takedown denial will lead to a Drive where your opponent can change directions of the takedown. You will need to match that direction with ^LS^ while holding ^RT^+^LT^.

**Inputs:**

^RT^+^LT^


UFC 5 in game screenshot practicing denial timing technique against takedowns.

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Denial Timing


Stamina awareness is crucial when you are on top of your opponent. Low Stamina on the ground can lead to your fighter getting submitted or swept into a bad position. High Stamina allows your fighter to react quickly and transition as quick as possible if Grapple Advantage is high. 


UFC 5 in game screenshot with UI highlighting the stamina gauge and how low/high stamina could turn a situation dire or entirely on its head.

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Stamina Awareness


With Grapple Assist on, select any of the Goals in the Grapple HUD with ^LS^ to attempt them or move to a position that has that goal available. With Hybrid or Legacy Grapple HUD enabled, select a transition available on the Grapple HUD with ^RS^. You can also hold ^LB^ to view advanced Transitions or ^LT^ for Submissions. Hybrid or Legacy Grapple HUD are recommended in Online play.

**Inputs:**

Grapple Assist: ^LS^ or Legacy Grapple: ^RS^


UFC 5 in game screenshot on how to grapple from transitions into submissions.

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How to Transition


Grapple Assist automatically selects the best possible transition to get you closer to the goal you choose in the Grapple Assist HUD. Holding the direction will allow your fighter to keep transitioning until the desired goal has been completed or blocked by your opponent. 


UFC 5 in game screenshot with UI apparent where it shows the controls with grapple assist.

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What is Grapple Assist


The timing required for the defensive input depends on how ambitious the attack is, as well as the ratings of the fighters involved and their situation. In some cases, if you time ^RT^ + ^RSALL^ or ^LSALL^ in the correct direction and extremely quickly, you will get a reversal.

**Inputs:**

^RT^+^RSALL^ or ^LSALL^


UFC 5 in game screenshot showing the timing required for defensive action inputs.