UFC: Tapout

About

UFC: Tapout is a 2002 Xbox fighting game built around real-life UFC stars like Matt Hughes, Chuck Liddell, and Frank Shamrock. Play through exhibition matches, tournaments, or arcade challenges while unlocking fighters including female competitors and celebrity Ice-T. The split screen mode lets two players battle locally, though the controls feel dated by modern standards. Submission holds, knockouts, and referee stops mirror actual UFC rules, but the gameplay leans more toward button-mashing than strategic depth. The game’s main draw is its roster and local multiplayer, though critics found it lacking in polish. A sequel arrived in 2003 with a refreshed fighter list but kept the same core mechanics. Both games carry a T for Teen rating. While it doesn’t hold up as a must-play, Tapout remains a footnote for fans of early 2000s sports games.