We had a chance recently to chat with John Edwards, the Senior Creative Manager for UFC 2009: Undisputed, on many aspects of the game. Being huge MMA fans here at Loot Ninja, we talked the ins and outs of the sport and how it translates so well to the game this time around.

Read on to find out how THQ balanced the gameplay between stand up and ground combat, submissions, their favorite fighters, and a lot more.

Loot Ninja: With MMA being made up of so many different styles of fighting, was there one in particular that was more difficult to implement in the game than others?

John Edwards: The stand-up game was pretty even all around, and no one Fighting Technique stood out as any more difficult than the other from an implementation standpoint. The same, however, could not be said for the ground combat! No other game has attempted to replicate the MMA ground game to the degree that UFC 2009 Undisputed has, so everything had to be created from the ground up, including new tech to make sure that the fighter models could get as close to each other as possible by displacing limbs and muscles; a physics-based combat system that allowed two linked fighters to be able to attack and move independently; and a completely new control system utilizing the right analog stick. It was definitely a challenge, and I hope fans of the UFC and games in general will appreciate the work that was put into making it as realistic as possible!

LN: Submissions are a major part of MMA and a way of balancing the fight. Are submissions a rock, paper, scissors mini-game, by chance, or do they depend on the ability of each fighter?

Edwards: Submissions rely on a few key factors. The first thing taken into account is the offensive fighter’s Submission Offense skill and the type of submission being attempted. Submissions pulled from more advantageous positions will have a higher success rate, so trying to lock in a triangle choke from mount will have a higher chance of success than a kimura from half guard, as mount is a much more dominant position for the offensive fighter.

The technique a player uses to attempt to lock in and complete a submission also plays a crucial role in whether a submission attempt is successful. There are two methods to choose from as the offensive player: the Shine (rapidly rotating the right analog stick) or simply button mashing. The Shine is always the most effective way to lock in a submission, so mastering the technique is very important for fighters who rely on submissions. The defensive fighter has the same two input options to choose from to try and escape from a submission, with each being influenced by a separate stat. Fighters with a high Submission Defense skill will be better served by attempting a Technical Escape using the Shine, whereas a fighter with a high Strength attribute will get the most benefit from a Brute Force Escape by mashing the face buttons rapidly. Defensive fighters should always be aware of which of these two stats are the highest so that they have the best chances of success in escaping submissions.

The final factor that contributes to a submission attempt’s success or failure is the defender’s Energy level. Energy is depleted when a fighter performs actions such as running, striking or performing transitions. As a submission artist, it is imperative to recognize when the opponent is gassed to ensure the highest possible chance of success when attempting to lock in a submission. I usually try to bait my opponent into blocking several transition attempts in a row to tire them out and then quickly go for the submission attempt!

LN: The first UFC game on Dreamcast always ended up in short kickboxing fights. What types of balancing were put into place to prevent this from happening all the time in multiplayer matches?

Edwards: In UFC 2009 Undisputed, each fighter has three Attributes and 16 Fighter Skills, as well as two Fighting Techniques. Due to the limitless variations of these stats, each fighter has his own set of strengths and weaknesses that ensure each fight plays out differently. A fight between two fighters with exceptional stand-up will turn into a striking match on their feet, while a fight between a striker and a grappler will play out much differently.

LN: Some fighters, such as Randy Couture and Diego Sanchez, move back and forth between weight classes. Will that be a possibility in Undisputed?

Edwards: Fighters who have moved up or down weight classes in the UFC will have that ability in UFC 2009 Undisputed. BJ Penn, for example will be able to fight at both Lightweight and Welterweight, with an appropriate adjustment in attributes.

LN: The Ultimate Fighter has been a huge part of the surge in MMA interest. Are there any plans to incorporate a TUF-type story mode for creating your own fighter?

Edwards: While it is not tied to TUF, we do have a Career Mode that allows players to create a fighter from scratch and experience the life of a UFC fighter.

LN: Who is your favorite fighter in the game and why?

Edwards: That is a tough question! Out of the 80+ fighters we have, it is pretty hard to decide on a single one as a favorite. If I absolutely had to choose, I would say BJ Penn, as he is such a complete fighter in real life and in-game. He has exceptional stand-up, including some nice defensive feints from his punches, and is incredibly powerful on the ground with his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu abilities.

LN: Any plans for DLC for new fighters?

Edwards: We are providing Ryan Bader and Efrain Escudero, the Season 8 TUF winners, as DLC for UFC 2009 Undisputed.  They are available as pre-order bonuses exclusively at GameStop.

LN: John, thanks so much for your time!