UFC Undisputed is a franchise that's already had a surprising amount of ups and downs in its short lifetime. The first title was a solid hit for THQ, and a sign that the public was again ready for a video game about mixed martial arts. But the second annual title floundered, putting the franchise's future into doubt just as it was getting underway.

With the third title in the series, THQ is backing off of yearly updates and moving back to a numbered scheme. As the company told Joystiq during a recent pre-E3 press event, THQ is taking a little extra time, both to go back to basics for the core audience, and to make a big new addition to the series: Adding in the new defunct Pride Fighting Championship and World Extreme Cagefighting rosters. Both fighting organizations have now merged with the UFC in real life, but here in this title, THQ plans to give them a place to live on virtually.