When you think about mixed martial arts video games, your mind probably goes straight to EA Sports UFC or maybe those old THQ UFC Undisputed titles. Those games are great, sure. They’ve got the glitz, the Bruce Buffer introductions, and the polished "as seen on TV" feel. But back in 2011, a developer called Kung Fu Factory and publisher 505 Games decided to do something different. They released Supremacy MMA, and honestly, it was a weird, bloody mess that most people have completely forgotten.
It wasn’t trying to be a simulation. It didn't care about the corporate polish of Zuffa-owned brands. Instead, it leaned into the grit of the underground—amateur fights in dark dojos, strip clubs, and even what looked like back-alley concrete pits.
The Most Brutal MMA Game Ever?
Basically, the marketing for Supremacy MMA was built on one word: brutality. They really hammered that home. While the UFC games were busy figuring out how to make the wrestling transition animations look fluid, Kung Fu Factory was busy figuring out how to make a shin bone look like it was snapping in half.
The game featured "bone-breaking" mechanics. If you did enough damage to a specific limb, you’d get a cringeworthy cinematic of a leg or arm bending in a way it definitely shouldn't. It was gruesome. The mat would get stained with blood that actually stayed there throughout the fight. In terms of visceral impact, it sort of felt like the Mortal Kombat of sports games.
Why the Critics Hated It
You’ve probably seen the scores. IGN gave it a 5.0. Others were even harsher. Why? Because while the violence was top-tier, the actual gameplay was... well, it was stiff.
There was this weird delay between pressing a button and your fighter actually throwing the punch. In a fighting game, that’s basically a death sentence. It felt sluggish. You spent a lot of time waiting to counter, which is realistic in a real fight, but it felt frustrating in an "arcade-style" game.
Here’s the roster situation, which was also kind of odd:
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- Jens Pulver: The legendary "Lil' Evil" was the face of the game.
- Jerome Le Banner: A K-1 kickboxing icon.
- Felice Herrig: This was actually a huge deal—she and Michele Gutierrez were the first female fighters ever in a major MMA game.
- Fictional Characters: Most of the rest of the roster was made up of guys like St. John Ackland or Dante Algearey.
It was a strange mix of real legends and fake guys who looked like they stepped out of a 90s brawler.
The First Female Fighters (Wait, Really?)
Yes, really. Long before Ronda Rousey graced the cover of EA Sports UFC 2, Supremacy MMA made history. In early 2011, they announced Felice Herrig and Michele Gutierrez would be playable.
Guinness World Records even officially recognized it as the "First MMA game with female fighters." It’s a bit of trivia that usually gets lost because the game itself didn't sell millions of copies. But for the history books, Kung Fu Factory beat EA and THQ to the punch by years.
The "Underground" Aesthetic
The game was rated M for Mature, and it earned every bit of that rating. This wasn't just about the blood. The story modes, which were surprisingly short (you could beat some in under an hour), featured some pretty dark themes.
We’re talking cutscenes involving drug use—literally a needle going into an arm in one scene—and suggestive themes like pole dancers in the background of certain venues. It was trying so hard to be "edgy" that it sometimes felt a bit "try-hard," if I’m being honest. But you have to give them credit for having a specific vision and sticking to it. They wanted to show the "dark side" of fighting, and they did.
What Happened to the Vita Version?
A few months after the PS3 and Xbox 360 release, they ported it to the PlayStation Vita as Supremacy MMA: Unrestricted. Interestingly, this version was actually better in some ways. They added new fighters like Jason Yee and Novell Bell, and they tried to fix the movement.
The Vita version allowed for more 3D movement instead of the restricted "locked-on" feel of the console versions. Still, it couldn't escape the fact that the core mechanics were just fundamentally janky.
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Is it Worth Playing Now?
If you’re a collector of weird gaming history or a die-hard MMA fan, it’s a fun curiosity. You can usually find a copy for a few bucks. It’s not "good" in the traditional sense, but it is unique.
There hasn't been another MMA game since then that has dared to be this stylized or this violent. Everything now is about the "official" experience. Supremacy MMA was the last of the "rebel" fighting games that didn't care about being a sanctioned sport.
Actionable Takeaway for Combat Fans
If you're looking to revisit this era or explore MMA gaming beyond the UFC:
- Check out the Vita version: If you have the hardware, Unrestricted is the more complete experience with better controls.
- Don't play it like a sim: If you try to play this like UFC 5, you will hate it. Play it like an arcade brawler where the goal is specifically to break a limb.
- Explore the story modes: They are hilariously dramatic and weirdly dark. They provide a glimpse into a very specific era of "extreme" gaming culture.
The game is a time capsule. It reminds us of a time when developers were still trying to figure out what an MMA game should actually be before the "simulation" style won the war.
Next Steps
If you want to track down a copy, focus on the PS3 or Xbox 360 versions for the best visual experience of the "bone-breaking" cinematics. For those interested in the history of women in combat sports gaming, researching the 2011 press releases from 505 Games regarding Felice Herrig’s inclusion provides a fascinating look at how much the industry has changed.