UFC boss and EA "at war"

Speaking to MMA Junkie, UFC boss Dana White has said he's "at war" with EA after the publisher announced plans to release a mixed martial arts game on XBOX 360 and Playstation 3. The UFC president claims that EA rejected UFC's idea for a game, claiming the publisher said UFC "was not a real sport". UFC 2009 Undisputed, which is published by THQ, has since gone on to sell a highly respectable 2 million copies around the world.

"We put our asses on the line, THQ and the UFC, to make a videogame deal in the worst economy in the world. We go out there and do this thing, and it's successful, and now...EA Sports wants to do a videogame. Really?

"That's not what you told us a year-and-a-half ago," he continued. "You told us you'd never be in business with us. They wouldn't even take a meeting because mixed martial arts disgusted them," said White.

Rumours are swirling that White has threatened UFC fighters that they will they be blacklisted if they sign on for their likeness to appear in the new EA MMA game.

EA Sports boss Peter Moore responded to the comments on his blog, saying:

"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 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."

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