UFC 2009 Undisputed offers unparalleled fighting controls and realism, and the game provides an accurate representation of one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. But for a new fighter just entering the Octagon, the numerous fighting styles can seem overwhelming. In this strategy piece, I will discuss my favorite fighting style, kickboxing.

As I alluded to in my review of UFC 2009 Undisputed a few weeks ago, the fighting controls are very intricate in the game and can be intimidating to newcomers. Because of this, I personally consider kickboxing to be a good starting point for any fighter in Undisputed, both because of its reliance on distance fighting and because of the variety of ways you can take down opponents. There are three main rules that should be followed by kickboxer, with the first rule applying to all fighters.

Rule 1: Fight Your Fight

Kickboxers are adept at fighting from a distance, and can use that ability to their advantage when battling against less experienced fighters. While kickboxing is less powerful than the "boxer" style of fighting, it is much more effective from longer range, which should give gamers a chance to circle around their opponents before striking at the most opportune moment. If you are looking for a fighting style that will involve a lot of ground fighting and close-quarters fighting, look elsewhere because kickboxers value their space and prefer to strike at their opponents from a distance.

Rule 2: Look for Opportunities Against an Overaggressive Opponent

I have discovered during my time with the game that kickboxers can be especially effective against opponents who are constantly on the offensive. As long as you can avoid being taken down and keep your hands up to protect your face and body, you can begin to look for a particular punch or kick from the opponent and counter it with a flurry of punches your own. While this sounds elementary, I have found that the quick punches (executed by throwing punches while holding down the left bumper on Xbox 360 and L1 on PS3) are the key to softening up your opponent, and they will also make your opponent more susceptible to one of the most powerful kicks in the game -- I will address that kick in the next rule.

An overaggressive opponent can provide you with multiple counter opportunities, allowing you to more easily take him down early in the match.

Rule 3: The High Leg Kick Is Your Friend

The high leg kick that is utilized by kickboxers is by far my favorite way to take down opponents, and it is the move behind a majority of my knockouts in the game. After throwing a number of punches to an opponent’s face, I tend to execute a few lower-body kicks in order to get my opponent's hands down. After the hands drop, I will unleash two or three successive high leg kicks to the side of my opponent’s head. While my kicks do not always damage my foe, they often will significantly impact my opponent's stamina, causing him to get disoriented -- thus exposing him to another knockout punch or kick. By using this tactic, I can even knock my opponent out within thirty seconds of the beginning of the match on rare occasions.

After softening up your opponent with some punches and working in a few high leg kicks, I will often kick my foe until he is able to repeatedly block my kicks. Most times, however, he is unable to avoid the kicks and goes down in a heap without much of a fuss.

Choose the Style Right for You

As with anything else, practice with a few of the different fighting styles available in the game, and decide which one is the best for you. If you have just recently picked up UFC 2009 Undisputed and are still somewhat unfamiliar with all of the tactics available to you in the game, kickboxing may be a good starting point for the beginning of your career in the Octagon. I say that because kickboxing gives newcomers a chance to hone their skills from a distance and work on exploiting an opponent’s weaknesses, all without being involved in close-quarters fighting, which is the place where one mistake can quickly lead to a loss.