EA SPORTS UFC 5 Controls: Full PS5 & Xbox Series X|S Button Map

Master EA SPORTS UFC 5 controls with our full PS5 and Xbox Series X|S button map for stand-up, clinch, ground, grappling, and accessibility options.

Stepping into the Octagon in EA SPORTS UFC 5 is punishing if you mash buttons and hope for a highlight-reel knockout. The game splits every fight into stand-up, clinch, and ground phases, and each phase relies on its own strikes, modifiers, and grapple inputs on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Below is a verified EA SPORTS UFC 5 controls button map, plus the official assist and accessibility options that simplify the learning curve.

The button inputs below come from GINX TV’s October 2023 UFC 5 controls guide and RealSport101’s UFC 5 controls guide, updated June 2026. Official first-party control assists and accessibility details come from EA’s official UFC 5 accessibility resources, published November 2023.

Choose Your Control Scheme and Game Style

EA SPORTS UFC 5 controls change depending on the control scheme and game style you pick before the fight. According to GINX TV’s guide, you can choose from these game styles:

Competitive: Balanced option used by default for all online competitive modes
Simulation: Real damage, real stamina, in real-time
Knockout: Emphasizes knockout power by reducing health recovery
Stand and Bang: Striking only, with all grappling, takedowns, clinch, and submissions disabled

Those game styles are locked to each Career Mode save, but you can change your controller settings at any time. For grappling, you must decide between Legacy Grapple Controls, the simplified Grapple Assist, or Hybrid, which blends both. GINX notes that mastering Legacy gives an online edge, while Grapple Assist or Hybrid is the best option for most players.

EA’s official accessibility resources add that the game also includes Simple Controls and two assists: Grapple and Defensive Grapple. Simple Controls let the AI choose the best available strikes, combinations, and actions, but this setting is not available in Online Modes. When either assist is on, the left stick is used for grappling moves and the AI determines direction; EA warns this can be challenging online against opponents using the Hybrid or Legacy Grapple HUD.

RealSport101’s guide also notes that a fighter’s style matters. For example, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter is very effective in grappling but can lose to a more balanced kickboxer on the feet, so try several fighters to find one that matches your approach.

Stand-Up Controls in EA SPORTS UFC 5

The stand-up phase is where most fights start, so learning basic movement, strikes, and takedown defense is essential. The table below combines basic inputs and modifiers from the RealSport101 and GINX TV guides. Remember to check your fighter’s move list, because a created fighter or real-world UFC fighter may not have every attack.

Action	Xbox Controls	PS5 Controls
Locomotion / Movement	Move Left Stick	Move Left Stick
Head Movement	Move Right Stick	Move Right Stick
Right Punch	Y	Triangle
Left Punch	X	Square
Right Leg Kick	B	Circle
Left Leg Kick	A	X
Technical Modifier	Hold LB	Hold L1
Body Modifier	Hold LT	Hold L2
Signature Modifier	Hold RB	Hold R1
High Block / Feint Strike	Hold RT	Hold R2
Low Block / Leg Catch (Timed)	Hold RT + LT	Hold R2 + L2
Switch Stance	Press Right Stick / Tap RS	Press R3
Taunts	D-pad in any direction	D-pad in any direction

Strikes, Kicks, and Grappling from the Feet

Once movement feels natural, use modifiers to throw advanced strikes or shoot for a takedown. These are the core EA SPORTS UFC 5 controls for stand-up offense.

Action	Xbox Controls	PS5 Controls
Hooks	Tap LB + X or LB + Y	Tap L1 + Square or L1 + Triangle
Uppercuts	Tap RB + X or RB + Y	Tap R1 + Square or R1 + Triangle
Overhands	LB + Hold X or LB + Hold Y	L1 + Hold Square or L1 + Hold Triangle
Body Kicks	Tap LT + A or LT + B	Tap L2 + X or L2 + Circle
Head Kicks	Tap LB + A or LB + B	Tap L1 + X or L1 + Circle

To initiate or defend a grapple from the feet, use these inputs:

Action	Xbox Controls	PS5 Controls
Wrestling Single Leg Takedown	Tap LT + X + A	Tap L2 + Square + X
Wrestling Double Leg Takedown	Tap LT + Y + B	Tap L2 + Triangle + Circle
Single Collar Clinch	X + A	Square + X
Defend Takedown	Hold LT + RT	Hold L2 + R2
Defend Clinch	Move Right Stick any direction	Move Right Stick any direction

Advanced movement options include:

Minor Lunge: Flick Left Stick on both consoles
Major Lunge: Hold LB + Move Left Stick / Hold L1 + Move Left Stick
Pivot Lunge: Hold LB + Move Right Stick / Hold L1 + Move Right Stick
Signature Evade: Hold LB + Flick Left Stick / Hold L1 + Flick Left Stick

Clinch Controls in EA SPORTS UFC 5

In the clinch, you control the opponent’s posture while looking for trips, throws, or submissions. The modifiers are similar to stand-up, but the Left Stick now rotates or pushes the opponent, according to GINX TV.

Clinch Modifiers

Action	Xbox Controls	PS5 Controls
Rotate / Push / Pull Opponent	Move Left Stick	Move Left Stick
Advanced Transition Modifier	Hold LB	Hold L1
Takedown / Submission Modifier	Hold LT	Hold L2
Strike Modifier	Hold RB	Hold R1
High Block	Hold RT	Hold R2
Low Block	Hold RT + LT	Hold R2 + L2

Clinch Grappling and Defense

Action	Xbox Controls	PS5 Controls
Wrestling Single Leg Takedown	Tap LT + X + A	Tap L2 + Square + X
Wrestling Double Leg Takedown	Tap LT + Y + B	Tap L2 + Triangle + Circle
Single / Double Leg Modifier	Move Left Stick Right, Up, or Down	Move Left Stick Right, Up, or Down
Advance Position	RB + X or RB + Y	R1 + Square or R1 + Triangle
Trip / Throw	RB + A or RB + B	R1 + X or R1 + Circle
Submissions	LT + RB + X or LT + RB + Y	L2 + R1 + Square or L2 + R1 + Triangle
Defend Takedown / Throw	Hold LT + RT	Hold L2 + R2
Defend Submission	Hold RT	Hold R2
Single / Double Leg Defense Modifier	Move Left Stick Left, Up, or Down	Move Left Stick Left, Up, or Down
Clinch Escape	Move Left Stick Left	Move Left Stick Left

Clinch Striking

Action	Xbox Controls	PS5 Controls
Hooks	Tap LB + X or LB + Y	Tap L1 + Square or L1 + Triangle
Uppercuts	Tap RB + X or RB + Y	Tap R1 + Square or R1 + Triangle
Body Knees	Tap LT + A or LT + B	Tap L2 + X or L2 + Circle
Head Knees	Tap LB + A or LB + B	Tap L1 + X or L1 + Circle
Elbows	Tap LB + X + A or LB + Y + B	Tap L1 + Square + X or L1 + Triangle + Circle

Ground Controls in EA SPORTS UFC 5

On the mat, grapple assistance changes the inputs. The general ground modifiers below come from GINX TV’s guide, while the Grapple Assist, Legacy, and ground-and-pound tables draw on both GINX TV and RealSport101.

Action	Xbox Controls	PS5 Controls
Grapple Stick	Move Left Stick	Move Left Stick
Advanced Grapple / Transition	Move Right Stick	Move Right Stick
Advanced Transition Ground and Pound Modifier	Hold LB	Hold L1
Body Shots Modifier	Hold LT	Hold L2
Ground and Pound Modifier	Hold RB	Hold R1
High Block	Hold RT	Hold R2
Low Block	Hold RT + LT	Hold R2 + L2

Grapple Assist and Defense

Action	Xbox Controls	PS5 Controls
Get Up	Move Left Stick Up	Move Left Stick Up
Submission	Move Left Stick Left	Move Left Stick Left
Ground and Pound	Move Left Stick Right	Move Left Stick Right
Defend Transition	Hold RT + Move Right Stick or Left Stick	Hold R2 + Move Right Stick or Left Stick

Legacy Grapple Controls

Action	Xbox Controls	PS5 Controls
Transition	Move Right Stick any direction	Move Right Stick any direction
Submission	Hold LT + Move Right Stick any direction	Hold L2 + Move Right Stick any direction
Additional Transitions	Hold LB + Move Right Stick any direction	Hold L1 + Move Right Stick any direction

Ground-and-Pound Striking

Action	Xbox Controls	PS5 Controls
Hooks	Tap LB + X or LB + Y	Tap L1 + Square or L1 + Triangle
Body Straights	Tap LT + X or LT + Y	Tap L2 + Square or L2 + Triangle
Body Hooks	Tap LT + LB + X or LT + LB + Y	Tap L2 + L1 + Square or L2 + L1 + Triangle
Elbows	Tap RT + X or RT + Y	Tap R2 + Square or R2 + Triangle
Head Movement	Move Right Stick Left or Right	Move Right Stick Left or Right
Post Defense	Hold LB + Move Right Stick Left or Right	Hold L1 + Move Right Stick Left or Right

If you’re playing offline with a fighter you don’t know well, pause the match and check their move list so you don’t attempt an attack they don’t have access to, as GINX TV recommends.

Accessibility and Assist Features for UFC 5 Controls

EA’s official accessibility resources confirm several features that affect controls and readability. You can select a game difficulty to change how challenging AI opponents are. You can also enable Simple Controls for AI-selected strikes and combinations, or toggle the Grapple and Defensive Grapple assists for simplified grappling.

Other verified accessibility options include:

Colorblind Filters: Choose Normal, Protanopia, Deuteranopia, or Tritanopia
Lock Camera Side Positioning: Keeps the Red Corner fighter on the left and Blue Corner on the right, though it may cause unnatural camera movement
Contrast and Brightness: Adjust sliders to change in-game visual settings
Subtitles: Enable subtitles for cinematic sequences

EA SPORTS UFC 5 Controls FAQ

Where can I view the official EA SPORTS UFC 5 controls and assist details?

EA’s official UFC 5 accessibility resources outline Simple Controls, Grapple and Defensive Grapple assists, and difficulty options. Full button-by-button EA SPORTS UFC 5 controls maps for PS5 and Xbox are documented by GINX TV and RealSport101.

Are PS5 and Xbox inputs for EA SPORTS UFC 5 controls identical?

No, the actions are the same, but the buttons differ. PS5 uses Square, Triangle, Circle, X, and L1/L2/R1/R2, while Xbox uses X, Y, B, A, and LB/LT/RB/RT. Stick inputs and modifier concepts are shared across both consoles.

What is the easiest way to learn EA SPORTS UFC 5 controls?

Start in Career Mode, which includes early tutorials and weekly Sparring drills that teach different aspects of fighting. Turn on Grapple Assist or Hybrid for simplified grappling, then practice the stand-up, clinch, and ground tables above.

Can Simple Controls be used in online UFC 5 matches?

No. EA’s official resources state Simple Controls are not available in Online Modes; they are intended for local or offline competitive play where the AI helps with strikes and combinations.