UFC 4 was released by EA Sports in August 2020 on Xbox One and PlayStation, and now that it's been included as part of Game Pass and EA Play, there will likely be an influx of new players giving the fighting game a try.
Unlike EA Sports' other popular games like FIFA, it's not too easy to simply pick up and play UFC 4, as the game is packed with a huge range of gameplay mechanics to try and match the complexities of MMA in real life. Each fighter also has their own playstyle, which can make it tricky for new players to get to grips with, especially when they're trying to use complex characters.
Updated January 29, 2022, by Jack Pursey: PlayStation Plus members have recently been informed of their next set of monthly games from the service. February 2022 will treat players to the RollerCoaster Tycoon-inspired Planet Coaster: Console Edition, the absolute mouthful Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-shot Adventure, and of course, UFC 4.
There will be many people downloading the game in February who will be completely new to the world of UFC games. With new players in mind, we've updated this list to include some more of the best fighters for beginners in UFC 4.
13 Chuck Liddell
Chuck "Iceman" Liddell is an MMA legend who was one of the key figures in the UFC's sharp rise into mainstream prominence. The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion is best known for his fierce rivalry with Tito Ortiz, who he fought against twice in the UFC and also competed against in the Ultimate Fighter reality show, where the pair were opposing coaches. In 2009, Chuck Liddell was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in the Pioneer Wing.
Chuck Liddell is a good first fighter for players in UFC 4, as he is an excellent kickboxer. This is a style of fighting that most beginners rely on when they're still getting to grips with the ground game. A master of this straightforward technique, Liddell is perfect for players getting used to the game's mechanics.
12 Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre is regarded by many as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, while some say that he simply is the best pound-for-pound fighter ever. The three-time UFC Welterweight Champion is a great choice for UFC 4 beginners because of how versatile he is. Whether he was competing on the ground, on his feet, or in the clinch, Georges St-Pierre would often get the upper hand — something that is reflected in the video game.
Players who use Georges St-Pierre should do what he used to do in real fights: use his versatility to choose a game plan that exposes the opponent's weaknesses. He has a wide range of strengths that beginners can take advantage of.
11 Kamaru Usman
Unlike the previous two entries, Kamaru Usman is still an active fighter today. In fact, The Ultimate Fighter 21 winner is currently the UFC Welterweight Champion, having most recently defended his title against rival Colby Covington. He is currently the UFC's number one ranked pound-for-pound fighter.
Usman is a great beginner choice for his devastating punching power and wrestling abilities. These skills have helped him dominate the UFC's Welterweight division, and make him a great choice in UFC 4 as well.
10 Khabib Nurmagomedov
This undefeated fighter is best known for his wrestling and judo, as well as his frequent tactic of forcing opponents up against the cage. This style is tough for new players to utilize as they generally prefer to stand and bang.
Still, Khabib is one of the greatest fighters in MMA history. It cannot be denied that sometimes raw power and ability are enough to carry newer players through.
9 Anthony Joshua
UFC 4 has a handful of playable characters that have never competed in the UFC. Along with Anthony Joshua, there's also Tyson Fury and Bruce Lee, as well as more obscure choices like announcer Bruce Buffer and UFC chairman Dana White.
New players tend to favor standing and striking, which makes the heavyweight boxer a great choice for beginners as they can get to grips with Anthony's simplistic boxing playstyle before venturing into more complex gameplay mechanics.
8 Brock Lesnar
It's a good idea to have a specific game plan in mind when picking a character to ensure that their strengths are being played to. This makes Brock Lesnar a good choice as there is a clear strategy to implement to get the best out of the fighter.
By using his extreme strength, freakish athleticism, and excellent wrestling abilities, Brock Lesnar likes to get his opponent on their back and start to ground and pound. Brock's reliance on this strategy does make him somewhat one-dimensional, but even if opponents know what he's planning, his size, strength, and athleticism make it hard to prevent.
7 Dustin Poirier
After any UFC event, the tie-in video game series gets a sharp increase of interest. Consequently, the UFC 264 event will likely bring in a wave of new players, some of who will be newcomers to both the game and the sport of MMA.
For such people, the American Dustin Poirier is a great choice, as it's handy to know how the characters fight in real life before using them in-game. Poirier was victorious in his match at UFC 264 against Conor McGregor after the Irishman broke his leg.
6 Valentina Shevchenko
Valentina Shevchenko is the UFC Women's Flyweight Champion and is currently second in the UFC's Women's Pound-For-Pound rankings, behind the immensely talented Amanda Nunes.
Valentina is known for her kickboxing skills, a style that most new players enjoy implementing. The Flyweight Champion is particularly skilled at counter-striking, dodging her opponent's attacks before landing brutal, hard-hitting blows. Shevchenko is no slouch when it comes to grappling either, as the Judo black belt has submitted multiple opponents, including Priscila Cachoeira at UFC Fight Night 125 and Julianna Pena.
5 Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya is one of UFC 4's cover stars, though he clearly isn't struggling from any form of a cover curse as New Zealand's star fighter is still the UFC Middleweight Champion. Adesanya is a fighter who feels great to use in-game, thanks to his slick movements, incredible athleticism, and deceivingly powerful strikes that can lead to some of the most cinematic knockouts in the game.
4 Francis Ngannou
Francis Ngannou is the UFC Heavyweight Champion and is a great choice for beginners in UFC 4 for one very simple reason: he hits like a ton of bricks. Sometimes, sheer power is the way to go.
The Cameroonian has the world record for the hardest punch ever measured, after throwing a punch of 129,161 units, beating the former record set by Tyrone Spong. Suffice to say, Ngannou is a great choice for those looking for a fast knockout.
3 Amanda Nunes
Amanda Nunes is essentially the UFC's equivalent of prime Usain Bolt or Michael Schumacher in the sense that people don't question whether she'll win but how fast she'll win. The fighter suffered a few losses early in her career but has since gone on to have an incredible run of performances that have seen her beat Holly Holm, Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, and the aforementioned Valentina Shevchenko on two separate occasions.
Picking Amanda Nunes in UFC 4 is like picking Oddjob in GoldenEye 007, as she's simply a step above the competition. Victory with her is all but guaranteed.
2 Conor McGregor (Legacy)
Conor McGregor is a fighter that almost all new players will recognize. The Irishman had a memorable rise to fame with his charismatic press conferences featuring braggadocious trash talk that he would back up in the octagon. McGregor's abilities in the octagon saw him become the first person in the UFC to hold two belts from two different weight classes after an incredible performance against Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205.
Unfortunately, McGregor's MMA career has been on a downward trajectory since, and he has only won one fight in the UFC since the Eddie Alvarez fight all the way back in 2016. Thankfully, the sea of new players wanting to use The Notorious at his best are in luck as a Legacy edition of him is featured in the game. Conor's a good choice for new players to use as most of them will already be familiar with his kickboxing style.
1 Jon Jones
The controversial Jon Jones is considered by many to be the greatest fighter in the UFC's history. However, there are some that dispute this claim, as the American has had numerous failed drug tests which some believe have tarnished his legacy.
Inside the octagon, Jon Jones is best known for his incredible technique and picture-perfect strikes. This technique is well-implemented into the game, making Jones a dream to control and an absolute nightmare to fight against. Jon Jones hasn't competed in the UFC for over a year but is still the number one ranked Pound-For-Pound fighter according to the UFC.
UFC 4 is out now for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.