Welcomingly, when the fight hits the mat a small icon appears indicating which position each stick movement will seek to secure. Transitioning between positions of varying levels of dominance is assigned to the right stick, as it was in the 2014 UFC, with the 'full mount' position tending to represent the hallowed ground from which fights are generally won. Take the fight to ground with a wrestling or Brazilian jujitsu specialist, however, and the action is less impressive.

Softening up your opponent with a few leg kicks before peppering the head and body with punches is an art unto itself and, as long as you pit yourself against quality opposition, one that takes significant practise to execute flawlessly. It's when you're on your feet that things are at their most powerful the best strikers able to execute combos as fast and as accurately as you can input them. Otherwise, the animations have been masterfully constructed in a manner that allows you total control over individual actions. Throw a punch during this momentary disconnect with reality and you're treated to seeing a professional fighter look like a drunk as they harmlessly swat away at the air in front of their face. This is particularly noticeable after you've just dropped your foe to the canvas with a solid strike, it Takes a second for your fighter to register that the target is no longer standing right in front of them. “Awkward moments are thrown up, as they were in EA Sports' 2014 UFC release, when a fighter's position is quickly and dramatically altered. UFC 2 is too sterile, too rigid, and too predictable to ever feel like a genuine representation of a sport that has built a dedicated audience thanks in large part to the reality that anything can happen at any moment. Such moments of shock and awe don't happen here. Ronda Rousey beat Cat Zingano in 14 seconds using a combination of dodge, counterattack and submission that most would think impossible. The most enduring star can win in a way that no one has ever seen before, furthering strengthening their legend. An underdog can get lucky and beat the champion with the first strike of a bout. The real UFC is full of sentimental, if brutal, glory. They've got the moves and the talent, but in the vital moment they failed to improvise and fell apart. Yet in their latest respective fights they both lost to opponents most expected them to beat.

These are two of the sport's most renowned stars blessed with the precision, dedication and desire required to lift them to championship glory. Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor's starring roles on the cover of EA Sports' latest attempt at recreating the world of the Ultimate Fighting Championship is fitting.

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