"EA Sports UFC 5: Monthly Updates and Dominant Combos for the Best Strikers"

EA Sports UFC 5 offers a variety of game modes, including Career Mode and Fight Week, but the gameplay is a mixed bag with some rewarding and intuitive moments, while other aspects feel unbalanced. The standing game has improved with toned-down spinning backhands, but the striking and movement of fighters can feel generic and lacking in signature animations. The ground game introduces a new submission defense mechanic, but stamina issues make it easy to spam strikes without consequence. The lack of new active fighters and the removal of presentation elements without replacements contribute to a lack of freshness and innovation in UFC 5.