@Zeta Crossfire

The only participant actually in UFC at this time is Randy "The Natural" Couture, who apparently made the deal with EA while in a contractual dispute with UFC, which is why he is not in the UFC 2009 game. Dana White HAS overtly stated his willingness to blacklist anyone (else) participating in the game... in practice, the more skilled-and-marketable you are, the more likely he's willing to forgive and forget.

The referee in the trailer is "Big" John McCarthy, long associated with UFC but actually appointed by state athletic commissions... probably the only reason that Steve Mazzagatti got to be in the UFC game, and there he doesn't have any voiceover.

I'm not sure it was worth it for them to put out this preview so far away from the game's release. It showed how far away they really are from making a good game, but I would like to see where EA can take the genre.

Looking good, definitely. I'm still more interested in the envitable UFC 2010 for now, but if EA Sports MMA does everything that UFC did right (deep fighting mechanics, good commentary, punishing knockouts) while fixing the bad (wonky character animation, somewhat broken online play & a weak career mode), EA will definitely have my money.

I'd rather listen to Ranallo than Rogan and Goldberg. Also, get this to PC you evil publisher no. 2 aka EA! This also applies to THQ - well, not the evil publisher part.

@Mr. Hibbert

I think it's supposed to look like a tribal tattoo.

What "tribe" do shitty "tribal" tattoos represent exactly? I've always wondered that. It's probably the tribe of shitiots that go to a tattoo shop and get whatever they see hanging on the wall.

@ Johnny Justice
Sounds about right, so I retract my earlier implication due to poor recollection that Couture signed for the MMA game, though he's subsequently confirmed for it.

UFC 2010 was already announced at E3 2009. As for more than just Strikeforce, expect DREAM due to its cooperation with Strikeforce, to the point of using a cage (albeit with fish netting instead of a chain-linked fence) and 3x5 rounds instead of 1x10 + 1x5 at its 12th show.

@Bionix_01
I believe EA Sports President Peter Moore's word over Dana White's. There, I said it.

The "muscled skeleton" thing is kind of... annoying. Doesn't help that it was HILARIOUSLY inaccurate when Babalu vs. Mousasi happened, as both fighters came and basically did the opposite of what the animation segment suggested they do.

Note re: "tribal" and douchebaggery: You're not the only ones to mock the macho culture that sometimes surrounds MMA, even UFC color commentator Joe Rogan had a HILARIOUS rant on the subject (minus the tattoos, but mocking the tendency towards gaudy shirts).

Commentary: Just be glad it's not Michael Schiavello, guys! (DREAM's English color commentator for HDNet Fighters; Guy Mezger is play-by-play.) Listening to him yell, "There's nothing we can't do together! Me commentating, and you fighting!" after a fighter's win, and him basically making orgasm noises at a legend's entrance...