Early Preview- 2013 Topps UFC Knockout

The popular Topps UFC Knockout release will be returning in 2013, currently set for a February 25, 2013 release date. Boxes are pre-selling for $150-155 and will include 8 packs per box (5 cards per pack). Each pack will include 3 base cards, 1 base parallel and 1 hit.

 

Box Break:

24 Base cards
2 Autographs
2 Autograph-Relics
4 Relics
8 Parallels

 

The base set contains 125 cards and is made up of UFC and Strikeforce fighters and there will be 4 parallels of each base card: Gold (#/188), Green (#/88), Red (#/8) and Printing Plates (1/1). There will also be a new parallel, Mat Parallels, which will be printed on a simulated mat-like material, these cards will be very limited (1/1).

 

Like prior Topps UFC sets there will be plenty of hits including autographs and relics. A run-down of the hits:

 

Autographs:

Base Autographs- 40 fighters and they will be on-card. First time fighters will include the “First Issue” stamp. There will be parallels too; Red (#/8), Mat Parallel (1/1), Red Ink (#/15) and this will include the fighter’s signature in red ink along with their nickname.

 

 

Notable Nickname Autos- 20 fighters and their nicknames are highlighted on cards containing signatures of the fighter’s nickname. (#/25)

 

Three Of A Kind Autographs- Fighters sharing a common link are grouped in sets of three, along with their atutographs. 10 cards all numbered to 10.

 

Sicksigs Autograph Book Card- Six fighters are grouped together by a shared bond on tri-fold book cards, featuring six autographs. Six cards all numbered to five.

 

Full-Contact Autograph Card- 20 fighters put silver pen to card for a set entirely on-card. (#/75)

 

Memorable Match-Ups Dual Auto Card- Ten pairs of fighters who faced off against each other in the past are paired up on cards with their signatures. (#/10)

 

Ultimate Knockouts Autos- Ten subjects from the Ultimate Knockouts inserts also receive a special autographed version of their card (#/25).

 

UFC @utographs- Fighters and UFC personalities are spotlighted with cards that contain on-card autographs along with their Twitter handles. (#/25)

 

Relics:

Fight Mat- 30 fighters, from specific fights, will contain a relic of fight-used mat from UFC and Strikeforce fights, they will be numbered to #/288. There will be parallels; Green (#/88), Red (#/8), Mat (1/1).

 

Knockout- 30 fighters and will include fight-worn shirt or shorts relics, the cards will be numbered.

 

 

Memorable Match-Ups- 10 pairs of fighters and will include fight-worn shirt or shorts relics (#/50).

 

Premium Pieces Relics- 30 fighters and will include multi-color relic pieces from fighter-worn shorts or shirts (#/88).

Between Rounds Relics- Cards featuring the Octagon Girls, it will include pieces of their outfits, the round cards, and robes (#/25)

Ultimate Knockouts Relics- 10 fighters from the Ultimate Knockouts insert will have a special relic version of their cards which will include fighter-worn gear (#/25).

 

 

Autograph-Relics:

 

Dual Autographed Fight Mat Relics- 10 cards featuring 2 fighters, includes autographs from both fighters along with a mat relic from the fight (#/10).

 

Knockout Autographed Relics- 30 fighters including an autograph and a fight-worn relic and they are numbered. There will be parallels; Red (#/8) and Mat (1/1).

Autographed Premium Pieces- 30 fighters, including an autograph along with a premium/multi-colored fight-worn gear (#/50).

Memorable Match-Ups Dual Autograph Jumbo Relic Book Card- 10 pairs of fighters and will include their autographs and jumbo swatches of worn gear (#/5).

 

Between Rounds Autograph Relics- Cards featuring the Octagon girls, it will include pieces of their outfits, round cards, and robes, and an autograph (#/5).

 

Ultimate Knockouts Auto Relics- 5 fighters from the Ultimate Knockouts insert will have a special relic and autograph version of their cards, featuring fighter-worn gear (#/10).

 

 

Triple Threads:

Triple Threads Relics- 48 cards featuring 24 fighters and will include 3 relics for each fighter (#/36). There will be parallel versions; Sepia (#/27), Emerald (#/18), Gold (#/9), Sapphire (#3) and Platinum (1/1).

 

Triple Threads Autograph Relics- 24 cards including the fighter’s autograph and 3 relics (#/28). There will be parallel versions; Gold (#/9), Sapphire (#3) and Platinum (1/1), Leather (1/1) and White Whale Printing Plates (1/1).

 

Triple Threads Combo Relic- 12 cards featuring 3 subjects with 3 relics (#/26). There will be parallel versions; Sepia (#/27), Emerald (#/18), Gold (#/9), Sapphire (#3) and Platinum (1/1).

 

Triple Threads Relic Double Combos Booklet- 8 cards featuring 6 fighters and 6 relics (#/36). There will be parallel versions; Sepia (#/27), Emerald (#/18), Gold (#/9), Sapphire (#3) and Platinum (1/1).

 

Triple Threads Glove Patch Book Card- 30 fighters featuring three swatches from a fighter-worn glove and jumbo patch (1/1).

 

Triple Threads Autograph Glove Swatch Book Card- 30 fighters featuring three swatches of fight-worn glove along with an autographed jumbo glove swatch. (1/1)

 

Special Inserts:

Fist-OGraphs Box Toppers: 20 fighters (20 cards total) with the fighter’s fist impression in ink along with an on-card autograph. Note that these box toppers are oversized and they are very limited, they will be randomly inserted in to only 20 boxes.

 

Autographed Glove Redemption: 30 fighters (30 cards total) will have redemption cards randomly inserted in to boxes, the card will include a code to redeem a UFC glove signed by the fighter.

I am a huge MMA fan and with releases very limited I think that Topps has done a nice job. Knockout is on the upper end of the product line and price-wise is outside of my price range but I love the release. The Fist-Ographs are hugely popular from last year's release and even the "cheaper" cards are selling in the $150 range.

Just looking at the base set I would rate this a 4 out of 5 on design alone, add in a healthy selection of solid inserts and this moves up easily to a 4 1/2 out of 5. The only downside is the over abundance of parallels, I am not a fan of paralleling almost every single card in the release. The cards are limited enough before tossing in 3-6 parallel cards.