Upon viewing the game's opening option screen it's immediately noticeable that no new features have been incorporated into UFC Throwdown. The same old career, arcade, training and UFC modes are available, and admittedly each has been expanded and improved. There isn't a great variety between each mode, but the tournament has to be won by many different fighters before all the combatants are unlocked for general play. Unlocking each fighter also makes a new combination of moves available that can be used in the "create-a-fighter" career mode.

While there is still a lack of facial features on offer when designing your character, the career mode has been improved substantially in UFC Throwdown. The player will compete in a number of challenges which, if completed, will reap the rewards of new moves and combos that can then be used in the combatant's next bout. You can either stick religiously to a particular martial arts style, or blend in different moves to become a jack-of-all-trades with a fighting style unique to your character. The career mode develops with a toned-down RPG feel to it, far superior to the basic points-spending fest of the previous UFC title.