Here is the issue with this question. In UFC 1, it took me a few months to become good enough at the submission game to consistently get submissions. Even now, I wouldnt say I can get submissions "easy" on Pro. It depends on who I'm using and how I am fighting.
With that said, I was playing on Hard and I wasnt getting submissions easily. The grappling system is different so setting up submissions feels different. You really have to think. In UFC 1, I felt like I could get to full mount rather easily with most fighters, wear down the CPU with punches and then go for an armbar or other submission. I never thought getting the actual submission was easy but I thought getting a dominant position was too easy. If the CPU tried to transition while on bottom, I found blocking transitions to be easy. I actually had to make house rules up (like if my transition is blocked I have to wait 3 seconds before trying another one) so that the ground game wouldnt be as easy.
In UFC 2, I have to gameplan what I want to do and thats slows the pace down. If I attack wildly with strikes from the top, there is a chance that I could get caught with an arm trap or swept or lose my position. I have to be equally aware about what I'm doing and what the CPU is trying to do. If I spam sub attempts and dont set them up, the cpu will transition and I will lose my advantage.
Now once I've successfully attempted a submission, the game feels similar to UFC 1 but it wasnt like I was submitting the CPU no matter who I used. For example, I had top control with a WW striker against a WW BJJ practitioner and kept top control for like a minute by pretty much grappling very conservatively. I think I was in half guard and I went for arm triangle just to see if I could sub him. I didnt have a chance. After the failed attempt, the CPU transitioned, eventually took my back and subbed me easily.
Now, subs may get easier the more I play the game and I didnt play with guys like Maia so maybe they are easier with a guy like him....but I didnt find them easy.
Regarding the strikes, I cant remember. Thats something I'll look for next time I play it.