UFC president Dana White declared war against EA and said that any fighter who lends his likeness to the upcoming EA Sports MMA game will be banned off the UFC.
About a year and half ago, UFC approached EA Sports asking for collaboration to develop a Mixed Martial Arts fighting game. "EA Sports told us, 'You're not a real sport,'" White said. "'We wouldn't touch this thing. We want nothing to do with this.'"
UFC then cooperated with THQ to develop and release "UFC 2009: Undisputed", an MMA fighting game which met an unforeseen market success. "We put our asses on the line, THQ and the UFC, to make a video-game deal in the worst economy in the world," White said. "We go out there and do this thing, and it's successful, and now [expletive] EA Sports wants to do a video game. Really? That's not what you told us a year-and-a-half ago."
On his official blog, EA Sports head, Peter Moore responded indirectly to White's comments, writing:
"I know there has been some recent discussion about EA Sports bringing a challenger to this sport. I love mixed martial arts, and we've been working on a game concept since I came to EA two years ago. I have great respect for the organizations and individuals that have invested in the sport's growth over the past decade - so this is one that is near and dear to me and I'm excited to see such good progress to date. "
"I trace my MMA video game roots back to my support of Crave's UFC title on the Dreamcast in 2000, and have been a fan ever since. Our title will bring both innovation and further authenticity to mixed martial arts, not to mention a strong global publishing network that will help spread the sport's popularity around the world."
