UFC Undisputed 3, which releases on Valentine's Day, will get a closed pre-release beta, according to the game's producer and a THQ representative. Though no other details are available, given the online difficulties faced by THQ's WWE 12, it's widely assumed this will cover the game's multiplayer features.
Console betas in sports titles, whether closed or open, are almost unheard of. The producer of another series that has struggled with its online features, NBA 2K12, said the typically short development cycle of sports publishing, and set-in-stone release dates required by professional leagues, makes a beta practically impossible.
UFC Undisputed was moved to a two-year schedule from an annual one after disappointing sales in 2010. That would seem to make it a good candidate for a beta, although it's a bit curious this one is both closed and announced so last-minute. This will probably be done for tuning and balance purposes although, as Pasta Padre notes, given what's happened with WWE 12 and the effect its MMA franchise has on its licensing partner, THQ will probably be looking at how the online codebase performs, too.
Beta To Be Held for UFC Undisputed 3 [Pasta Padre]