A method for controlling a connection between a user equipment and a network, and a mobility management entity. The method includes: receiving, by a mobility management entity, a network connection request sent by a user equipment; determining a priority of the network connection request and a network overload state; and controlling a connection between the user equipment and a network according to the priority of the network connection request and the network overload state. The mobility management entity according to the embodiments of the present invention can selectively control the connection between the user equipment and the network by determining the priority of the network connection request and the network overload state.