26 Oct 2023 2:01 PM +00:00 UTC

UFC 5: How to defend

The long-awaited EA Sports UFC 5 is finally out. We've already covered career mode, takedowns and the clinch, so it's time to learn how to defend in UFC 5.

The most crucial aspect of any UFC game is mastering the art of defence, which includes blocking, standing or ground defence. Proper defence will allow players to protect their fighter's health and gain an advantage. Without further ado, here are the controls that will help you defend like a pro in UFC 5.

How to defend in UFC 5
Stand-up grapple defence
Clinch grapple defence controls
Ground grapple defence

By the way, if you want to read even more, then feel free to check out our articles on whether you can find Conor McGregor and Mike Tyson in UFC 5.

How to defend in UFC 5

First, we'll break down the basic defensive UFC 5 controls. You should learn these actions and use them in every fight.

Action	Xbox Series X\|S Controls	PS5 Controls
High Block	Hold RT	Hold R2
Low Block / Leg Catch	Hold RT + LT	Hold R2 + L2
Head Movement	Move right stick	Move right stick
Switch Stance	Press right stick	Press R3

Basically, it's simple. Press R2 (or RT on Xbox) to perform a high block and protect your head from being hit. Hold R2 + L2 (or RT + LT on Xbox) to perform a low block, which will help you protect your body or legs (movement) if the opponent notices that your fighter's head is reliably protected. Head movement is needed to dodge punches, so we'll explain that control below.

Once you have learned the basic defence controls, you should master advanced movements, which will greatly strengthen your skills. These controls will allow you to dodge attacks in time and sometimes make the most unexpected moves for your opponent. Here's how it works:

Action	Xbox Series X\|S Controls	PS5 Controls
Minor Lunge	Flick left stick	Flick left stick
Major Lunge	Hold LB + move left stick	Hold L1 + move left stick
Pivot Lunge	Hold LB + move right stick	Hold L1 + move right stick
Signature Evade	Hold LB + flick left stick	Hold L1 + flick left stick

Once you've mastered the basic controls, it's time to move on to the more advanced ones, namely grapple defence, clinch grapple defence, and ground grapple defence.

Stand-up grapple defence

Use these controls when you see your opponent attempting a takedown or clinch:

Action	Xbox Series X\|S Controls	PS5 Controls
Defend Takedown	LT + RT	L2 + R2
Defend Clinch	Right stick in any direction	Right stick in any direction

Clinch grapple defence controls

If you do get caught in a clinch, you need to know how to escape or defend against an unwanted takedown. Here are the clinch grapple defence controls:

Action	Xbox Series X\|S Controls	PS5 Controls
Defend Takedown/Throw	LT + RT	L2 + R2
Defend Submission	RT	R2
Single/Double Leg Defence Modifier	Move left stick to the left, up, or down	Move left stick to the left, up, or down
Clinch Escape	Left stick to the opposite side of the opponent	Left stick to the opposite side of the opponent

Ground grapple defence

These controls will help you when your opponent throws you to the ground and starts grappling.

Action	Xbox Series X\|S Controls	PS5 Controls
Get up	Left stick up	Left stick up
Submission	Left stick left	Left stick up
Ground and pound	Left stick right	Left stick right
Defend transition	RT + right stick or RT + left stick	R2 + right stick or R2 + left stick

When you are in a grapple, try not to waste your stamina. Wait for your opponent to use up their energy and then act!

Read more: How to touch gloves in UFC 5

For more articles like this, take a look at our UFC page.