Taking down your opponent in UFC 4 is a very effective method of putting the opposition into oblivion. But while it can be an effective tool for winning fights, you don't want to be on the other side. Losing a grappling hook battle and getting knocked down puts a fighter a little closer to either hitting the opposing competitor or having the referee stop the fight and declare a TKO loss.
So what do you need to know about ground defense in UFC 4? We've got you covered because we've got five tips you should know about ground defense in UFC 4.
Know the commands
First and foremost, you need to know which commands to press to stop a withdrawal. If the opponent attempts an out, press LT / L2 + RT / R2 to stop them. You will need to recognize a potential withdrawal very quickly, because if you don't hit the triggers at the right time, the opposition will bring you all in.
Opponents can also go for strikeouts, which are slightly different from traditional, in that it also involves the left stick (up or down). To avoid any of them you will have to use the left joystick with LT / L2 and RT / R2 and push it up or down to stay on your feet. If you need more help on orders to prevent withdrawals, YouTuber Baylian has a good spread of those moves on his channel.
Familiarize yourself with the HUD
If you have descended to the ground, it is important to use the HUD to get up. The Grapple Assist HUD (left stick) and Legacy Grapple HUD (right stick) can both be good aids in helping you get back to the ground or counter a submission. If you are using the old HUD, move the left joystick in the direction shown on the screen to enter a submission (if your fighter has one) or attempt to stand up. Keep in mind, however, that this HUD is limited. If you use the Legacy HUD, you'll have more options available to you, like switching to half-guard or sprawl, which you can use to counter opposition.
The problem with attempting to transition, however, is that it relies on something very important: endurance.
Preserve your endurance
If you have low stamina, it will be more difficult to break through opposition on the pitch or try to fight your way. For this reason, you will need to choose your breaks wisely. If you're trying to break free, try to wait as long as possible for your stamina bar to fill up. Once it reaches the highest possible value, you will be able to make the transition faster and easier.
In addition to the stamina bar, you'll want to keep an eye out for the green blocking bar on the screen. This will indicate how much energy you will have left with your blocks, which is very important if the opposition is in the Top Mount / Full Guard position. If you block enough successive hits, you can break the mount.
Knowing how to stop the opponent's transition
If you are on the ground and see the opponent moving to a new position on the HUD, you need to know how to stop this transition. To do this, press RT / R2 to prevent the transition. You'll want to stop it as quickly as possible, as the speed of a transition depends on the amount of stamina the opponent has. If you see any of these transitions, remove it as quickly as possible.
Understand that you can't stop it all
In the end, it would be nice to catch every potential takedown, you can't win every battle. There will be times when you lose a battle and you will be defeated. And if you're down, there will be times when the opposition takes over with grabs and strikes. The key is that it's important to know the counters and not to panic when you're in an awkward place.
If the opponent opts for a ground and pound TKO, use your blocks (as we mentioned earlier). Another effective method of avoiding a stop is to use the right stick to weave left or right to dodge a straight line. Also, press LB / L1 to try to catch and counter to get out of a tight jam.
Finally, if the opposition calls for a bid, don't get too excited about the trigger or the bar will get too high. It's easy to panic in these situations, but gently holding the triggers down will ensure that the bar doesn't move too quickly in one direction, which will ensure your bar stays small.
Follow these tips and stay calm when playing defense on the pitch, and you'll be a little closer to reversing the fight.
