UFC No Longer Banning Fighters Due to EA Sports MMA Appearances

March 30, 2010 2:20 PM

After declaring war with Electronic Arts over its mixed martial arts game, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White has backed down on his threat to ban any fighters from the league should they choose to appear in EA Sports MMA.

"Nah, some people have crossed over," White told Kotaku when asked if he was still serious about banning fighters. "But believe me this is still going to continue to be a battle. ...they're the me-toos. The UFC game is the original game."

White's animosity stems from claims that Electronic Arts once refused to meet with him over the prospect of a licensed UFC game. "They told us it's not a real sport," he explained, echoing his previous comments. "They told us they would never do a game and now they're coming out with a fucking game. Johnny come latelys. Me-toos."

The UFC has since partnered with rival publisher THQ for a series of league-branded video games, the latest of which--UFC Undisputed 2010--arrives May 25. As for EA Sports MMA, it's currently expected between October 1 and December 31, 2010.

Chris Faylor

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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March 30, 2010 2:44 PM

I bet the EA that told him that was the old one, run by Larry Probst. Riccitello would have probably met with him and set something up. But Dana White is not really good at letting go of grudges.
- sphinx
  
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  March 30, 2010 2:51 PM
  
  Dana White is good at creating publicity out of business.
- socom8271
  
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  March 31, 2010 2:14 AM
  
  Yeah I actually remember a interview at EA(I don't remember or else I'd source it...) and that is exactly what happened.