UFC 4 is an excellent game that does a great job of capturing the very complicated combat sport in videogame form. However, the game isn’t without its issues especially when it comes to playing online whether it’s in ranked or in a friendly match.
These issues usually stem from some players being able to exploit the game’s mechanics until it’s patched by EA Right now, the biggest offenders are the clinch spammers and UFC 4 doesn’t offer any real way to defend or deny the clinch as they could do in UFC 3.
As a result, there are players in the higher divisions that overusing the clinch and destroying their opponents with it. This mechanic gets worse for the defending player because when they pull away from the clinch they will get hit with an unblockable uppercut and the stamina drain for pulling away is too punitive. Unfortunately, even the best players will get caught by the clinch but there are ways to try and fight back and make it more difficult for the players that are exploiting this move and get some payback.
10 Use Head Movement
One of the most effective ways of fighting someone that is spamming the clinch mechanic is to learn how to use head movement. However, one must be mindful of their own stamina when using this mechanic because it can drain the fighter’s stamina in no time.
The key to effective head movement is to use the 12 o’clock to the 6 o’clock method as this not only helps to avoid the clinch but any incoming punches too. To execute it effectively practice the rotating the R stick from 12 to 6.
9 Step In And Out
Another way of keeping a clinch spammer at bay is by quickly stepping in and out of danger landing a combo and keeping the distance. Forcing the fighter that is spamming the clinch to come forward and walk into a combo will take them out of their comfort zone.
A great way to keep the opponent from closing the distance would be to land a perfectly timed front kick. Not only is it great at keeping an opponent back, but there’s also a good chance of scoring a knockdown or a flash KO.
8 Learn The Ground Game
If there is one thing that is almost certain about a player that spams the same move over and over again is that they probably haven’t learned how to effectively use the game’s other key mechanics like the ground game by picking a good wrestler.
Learning how to take them down and be effective on the ground is another great way of completely nullifying the clinching game. Furthermore, when the fight goes back to the feet they will be far more apprehensive about getting too close to spam the clinch.
7 Head Movement And Counter
Another absolutely vital way of making someone that is spamming the clinch pay for going to the well once too often is by learning how to quickly move the head and counter with an uppercut or a hook with a good striker. Swaying into the counter hook and/or the uppercut is capable of causing massive damage especially if their stamina has been depleted by going for the clinch over and over again.
The damage percentage on a countermove like this is very high and if it’s followed by a good combo like a lead uppercut followed by a straight the head, the damage will be significant.
6 The Side Step Counter
The lunging side step is one of the effective ways of getting out of the way of a fighter that’s pressing forward and it works well against the fighter that’s pressing ahead looking for the clinch too.
The key to an effective side step is all about timing but not overusing it and being as unpredictable as possible. Also after a successful side step has been initiated don’t necessarily go for big moves like an overhand punch or a high kick because they are easy to avoid. Performing a simple but quick lead jab is just as effective because of the high damage percentage that’s automatically caused by landing a counter punch.
5 Push Into The Clinch And Block
At times there’s simply no way to avoid getting caught in the clinch so knowing when to try and pull out of it as the key to successfully avoid it. Instead of immediately trying to pull away which overly taxes the defending fighter’s stamina, one needs to push forward and block the punches and kicks.
Successfully blocking will drain the opponent’s stamina which will create the perfect opportunity to pull the R stick away from the opponent. Timing this correctly will ensure that the unblockable uppercut will be slower and less devastating.
4 Try And Push Them Into The Cage
An effective way to fight back against a consistent onslaught of clinch attempts is to strategically position oneself near the cage but from the outside. This way the defending player has a chance of trying to push their opponent against the cage.
Getting them against the cage will immediately put the once-defending player into the dominant position where they can land body punches, kicks, and knees to the body. Going for the body will drain their stamina more effectively in the long run.
3 Uses Lunging Punches
One of the trickiest moves to pull off in the stand-up game is the lunging punch. However, it’s worth learning because they land with a high damage percentage and leave the opponent wide open for a devastating combo.
To land the lunging strike whether it’s a straight jab or a hook, one needs to flick the stick toward their opponent and about halfway through the step hit the punch. This will make one fighter lunge forward and land a very effective strike, to follow up with a combo before lunging back out of danger again.
2 Push Away And Kick Combo
A very subtle way to defend against someone constantly pressing forward looking for the clinch or any other attack is to push them away. To initiate the push one needs to hold down the L1 button or (LB on the Xbox) and press either square and x or triangle and circle depending on whether the fighter is in orthodox or southpaw.
Once the player gets the timing down on the push technique, they can follow up with either a kick to the body or a kick to the head. It’s always best to try this combo with a fighter that has lightning-fast kicks like Israel Adesanya, Vitor Belfort, or Stephen Thompson.
1 Circle Away And Go For The Legs
When the opponent is focused on nothing but the clinch or head strikes they can often become complacent and forget that they need to protect their lower body. So an effective way to counter the clinch is to circle away to the outside of their leading hand.
For example, if the opponent is fighting in the orthodox stance, then one needs to move to the right using the lunging side step as they go for the clinch and vice versa if they are fighting southpaw.
Upon side-stepping, players can land a leg kick, potentially causing high stagger damage to the legs. However, it pays to switch stances often and not become predictable, the less predictable someone is the harder it will be for the opponent to time the clinch.
NEXT: EA’s UFC 4: 10 Ways To Beat A Pressure Fighter
