THQ to Reveal UFC Video Game at UFC 84

THQ, the video game developer that won a contract to develop the Ultimate Fighting Championships’ new video game, has planned its first reveal of the game for UFC 84 — an event that takes place Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 24.

The news comes from THQ’s recent financial/stockholder conference call.

More than a year ago, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) passed along the news that THQ had signed a five-year contract with the UFC. The famed game maker earned exclusive rights to publish UFC video games through the end of 2011 for all console and portable platforms, as well as wireless devices.

According to company executives, they’ll reveal their work to date at UFC 84, which features a main event of UFC lightweight champ B.J. Penn vs. former champ Sean Sherk. The event takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The company is also expected to reveal the game at its own media event that same weekend.

A release date for the game will likely be announced during the UFC 84 unveiling, as will an official name for the game. The title has been referred to as both “UFC 2009? and “Ultimate Fighting Championship 2009? over the past year.

THQ plans to make the upcoming title an annual release (similar to the successful Madden football line of games), assuring the game and its roster of fighters stay fresh. The first version of the game is expected to feature current and past UFC champions and other notable fighters. For much of the past year, many UFC fighters — including newbies from “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series — have been scheduled for appointments with THQ to be modeled into game characters.

THQ, founded in 1989, has exclusive deals with companies such as World Wrestling Entertainment, Nickelodeon and Disney Pixar. The company has produced approximately 200 game titles to date.

(Touch of gloves: MMAjunkie.com reader “James D.”)