Play Ultimate Fighting Championship Online

I picked up Ultimate Fighting Championship for the Game Boy Color around 2000, a time when portable fighting games were mostly simple affairs. It was developed by Tiertex Design Studios, a name I recognized from a few other licensed titles. This was their attempt to bring the no-holds-barred feel of the early UFC to the small screen, a concept that felt ambitious for the hardware.

You control one of several mixed martial artists, each with their own basic moveset. The main goal is straightforward: win fights by knockout or submission to climb the ranks. The fighting itself relies on a few key mechanics. You have separate buttons for punches and kicks, and you can grapple by getting close to an opponent, which initiates a clinch where you can attempt takedowns. Once on the ground, a simple submission system activates, though it often feels more like a frantic button-mash than a strategic hold. The pacing is fast, almost rushed, and the difficulty can spike unexpectedly, making some matches feel less about skill and more about persistence. It feels like a stripped-down interpretation of the sport, where you are constantly working within the limits of the system to secure a win.