The key to believability in the brutal brawling is Undisputed’s phenomenal animation. Bodies realistically react to each other, eliminating any semblance of clipping or visual glitches. Missed punches wrap around or skid off of an opponent rather than going through him. Terrific face-jiggles, flexing muscles and gross gashes will convince you that these polygonal dudes are made of meat. Screenshots can’t convey how relentlessly brutal UFC 2009 Undisputed is in motion; devastating counters that send blood spewing from a wide cut will be followed by an “ooh!” while the loser that limply falls after a big kick is met with “ahh!” Whether you’re playing or watching, Undisputed like an injection of concentrated testosterone that will turn a tepid room rowdy in a heartbeat.

This translation from the ring to the console is reflected especially well in the career mode, which pushes your up-and-coming fighter through the ranks as he pounds and pummels his way to the top. Standard structure aside, the career mode is consistently rewarding and full of little touches to make you feel more at home. Getting congratulatory (or derogatory) e-mails from UFC-prez Dana White, replacing an injured fighter on short notice, and landing bigger, better sponsors offers some solid behind-the-scenes immersion.

In between bouts your fighter will upgrade his strength, speed and cardio stats by spending a percentage of your stamina. He’ll also accrue spendable points after a brief sparring session or by completing challenges at a training camp. The more you put into it, the more you’ll be able to boost offensive and defensive traits like takedowns, strikes and submissions to further your fighter’s physical prowess. The unending stream of rewards is a killer hook that kept me fighting for far longer than I should have been. If you’re comfortable couch-surfing by yourself, you can vent your lonely frustrations against online opponents and dip into the cool Classic Fights, which has you trying to recreate the results of 12 famous fights.

You’ll have the best time with UFC 2009 battling with some pals. This is easily the most satisfying and wildly entertaining one-on-one brawler I’ve played on a console. Whether you’re a bananas for UFC, don’t know anything about it, or flat-out don’t like it, UFC 2009 Undisputed will evoke some sort of emotional response to both player and passerby. The unpredictable variety makes for sublime violence that’s unmatched.

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