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.
