first i want to say yes this game has a learning curve and really not so much in submissions because truely it feels like you can never master submissions no matter how hard you cramp and bloody your fingers to crippling blisters..but there is a funny reason for this see in this game you can only throw punchs,take downs,grapple, & "Tada" Submissions like the MMA Fighter that you picked and would use in real life wich is cool..but even so with these Fighter talents Submissions again are impossible to use or like right next to it..i dont know why THQ and developers did this but it stoped there game from getting a at least a "9 out of 10".
"Gameplay"
again the gameplay is awsome it gives you a feel that each fighter fights different and acts different in the ring the new combo system is easy to get a grip of and over some time so does most aspects of the octogon grappling,takedowns,precise punching..but again Submissions are frustrating almost seems like it does no good to even try to get out of the hold its very overwelming to me and most players but other than the submission failure this game is tons of fun.
"Graphics"
the graphics and animations are some of the best ive seen in a while from face twitchs and rolling eyes to cuts on the face are better than last years that area is all good in the game.
"Sound"
YES!! no repetitive backround noise and joe rogan interviewing the same fighters when you pop in the menu sceen in 2009 UFC in 2010 UFC its more like a old school knockout kings style boxing music wich is perfect and the Crowd now chants the names for highly popular fighters in good fashion..very well crafted sound quality it sounds Live!.
"Career & Multiplayer"
Career mode is Fun but not the best it gets some what boring and again if your in a submission than thats it ..Tapout..and Multiplayer is Choppy and cant get a good match to go right most times with the lag..the online gym is the only best part lol..a Online MMA match has to run Smooth or its never gonna work.all other modes like Tournement,Classic fights,Tittle hunting but there not all that fun i mean they can be yea but no different than just pounding people out in singleplayer.
"8.5 out of 10"
why my rating ?.. well this game is Fun and any MMA/UFC fan would love it other than the Horrid Submission system you would have alot fun and time consuming goodness.