Play UFC for Free

Underneath all the features and extras, this is a 20 line video slot with 5 reels and 3 rows of symbols on each reel. You can select the number of lines to play, and your coin size from 1p through to £10. This makes the spin range (for full lines) 20p to £200. You can choose auto-play which is set to a default of 25 automatic spins. Each time you win; the lines light up and a small cascade of coins goes from the end of the line to the ‘paid’ box.

The wild, which is an image of the fighter you chose when the slot started, is the best paying symbol in this game. You can win 1000 coins for 5 on a line, plus the extras with other lines that the wild symbol usually produces. This does not substitute for any of the bonus symbols. If this wild symbol lands on the middle reel, your fighter appears over the reels and more wilds are added randomly to the screen. This can result in some nice windfalls from time to time.

The UFC logo and hostess in blue are next on the pay table – each worth 300 coins for 5. The hostess in red, announcer, ring and punch-bag make up the remaining unique symbols. Playing card symbol add smaller wins to the mix.

There are two different bonus symbols to look out for. These are the belt, which start the ‘Fight Night’ bonus when it lands on reels 1, 3 and 5. The other is the two gloved fists. This lands on reels 2, 3 and 4 and triggers the Training Bonus (which includes free spins).

These bonuses are complex break out games, and for me are worth playing the slot just to see.

The Training Bonus uses the fighter you chose at the start, putting him on the left of the screen and displaying stats for strength, stamina and experience. You then choose a card, and another fighter appears, along with their stats. A number of free spins is assigned to you and your opponent, and one of the stats is compared. Whoever comes out on top; that is the number of spins which are added to your total. You repeat this 5 times, with the spins accumulating. Once that part ends, you go to the main reels and start your spins. There is nothing particularly different about these spins, though the game moves somewhat faster than during normal play.

Fight Night is an animated bonus round, where you face off in the ring. You can your opponent have energy bars at the top of the screen – in the same way you will find on many video games. You then click to select a fight move using a button at the bottom right. This also determines whether you or your opponent makes the move. Each time you attack your opponent you will win money, with an extra bonus if you end up winning the fight.

Endemol have done it again, taking a popular theme and creating a professional and playable slot from it. The tone is just right, with heavy music and tough looking symbols recreating the UFC atmosphere nicely. At the same time there are enough interesting features (the on-reels random wilds plus two unique bonus rounds) to keep you engaged. I can see this being the type of slot which players return to again and again. I’m not a UFC follower, and did enjoy the game a lot – for fans, this is a must-play.