"UFC 2": Surprise losses inspire cover athlete curse

PREVIOUSLY applied to Electronic Arts' "Madden NFL" series, high profile defeats for the stars promoting mixed martial arts game "EA Sports UFC 2" has led to talk of a cover athlete curse spreading to the contact sport's tie-in.

UFC Champs Upended

First, Olympic medalist Ronda Rousey sustained the first loss of her UFC career on November 15, 2015, just two days after she was confirmed as one of the two "EA Sports UFC 2" cover stars.

She didn't just lose her Bantamweight title but also her consciousness and, following the knockout, her right to fight when the UFC suspended her for two months as a medical precaution.

The game's male cover athlete was another apparently invulnerable breakout success: clinching the deal, Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor delivered a characteristic knockout win in December 2015.

But at UFC 196 on March 5th, McGregor entered the Welterweight division and suffered his own first loss in the process.

With "EA Sports UFC 2" releasing on March 15th, it means the game's cover will lack a reigning champion upon its street date and, quite likely, for many months afterwards.

That, coupled with the April 2015 arrest of Jon Jones, who had fronted 2014's "EA Sports UFC," has led to musings that the Madden Curse may be spreading from EA's "Madden NFL" franchise to its newest high-impact sports sim.

The Madden Curse

The long-running "Madden NFL" series has become associated with season-blighting injuries, dips in form and twists of fate since sporting legend John Madden gave way to Garrison Hearst for the cover of "Madden NFL 99."

Hearst subsequently broke his ankle with near career-ending complications; Barry Sanders then booked the cover of "Madden NFL 2000" before suddenly announcing his retirement a week before the season started.

Other misfortunes attributed to "Madden NFL" include those befalling Michael Vick ("Madden NFL 2004," fractured leg pre-season), Donovan McNabb ("Madden NFL 2006," groin, ligament and knee injuries), Adrian Petersen (2014's "Madden NFL 25," recurrent foot injury) and a retired Brett Favre (in commemorative Green Bay colors for "Madden NFL 2009"), who then came out of retirement and switched teams.

UFC 2's Fighting Chances

Not that this most recent pair of losses need dent the game's opportunity, as both Rousey and McGregor have built up strong reputations since debuting in 2013.

McGregor's propensity for mind games still invite comparisons to Muhammed Ali, while 2015 saw him win a clutch of honors from MMA authority Sherdog.

Rousey has swiftly expanded her repertoire beyond sports, acting in "The Expendables 3," "Furious 7" and the "Entourage" film, with the lead role in a remake of Patrick Swayze 80's classic "Road House" next up.

"EA Sports UFC 2" releases the week of March 15th on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.