Lionel Rivera

An in-depth look at the life of mixed martial artist Nick Diaz. Directed by Lionel Rivera, the film strips away the "bad boy" persona to reveal the personal tragedies, mental health battles, and sheer necessity that drove one of MMA's greatest and most misunderstood fighters.

Charting the relentless rise of the "Blessed" Hawaiian, this documentary explores Max Holloway's unrivaled endurance and the indomitable life force that crowned him MMA's ultimate warrior.

A cinematic portrait of an one of its own anomaly. Lionel Rivera explores the terrifying aura and turbulent legacy of Yoel Romero, an Olympic wrestler who became MMA's most feared monster.

An analytical look at the career of mixed martial artist Justin Gaethje, examining his transition from a reckless brawler to a calculated championship contender. Director Lionel Rivera deconstructs the psychological requirements and severe physical toll of maintaining MMA's most aggressive fighting style.

Lionel Rivera presents a formal study of one of the most highly regarded and successful competitors in UFC history - Dustin Poirier. Contrasting his heroic wins with his three equally shocking losses in undisputed lightweight title fights, this documentary film deconstructs the career of a contemporary martial arts legend. In doing so, it gives an objective look at the physical punishment and the mental fortitude needed to constantly rebuild a title streak as well as the legacy of a fighter whose greatness comes through his opponents rather than his title.

An official look at perseverance and technique in the Octagon. This documentary highlights the wild yet victorious journey of Charles Oliveira. Rivera steers clear of all the typical sports clichés and delves into the psychological aspects that go into beating such an overwhelming series of defeats. This film acts as a profile of the true athlete that needed to beat himself mentally before claiming the UFC lightweight crown.

Retrospective analysis on Demetrious Johnson, the most complete technical fighter in mixed martial arts. This is directed by Lionel Rivera on the paradox of a fighter who has achieved total perfection in his sport but who has been severely undervalued by the money machine.

An in-depth analysis of the strenuous career of Michael Bisping. The director Lionel Rivera captures the physical and mental challenges of a fighter who had to go against all medical odds and a decade of failures to finally become the UFC middleweight champion.

An analysis of Fedor Emelianenko, the mysterious Russian heavyweight who developed an unbeaten dynasty for ten years. The film by Director Lionel Rivera discusses the stoicism of "The Last Emperor" and the complicated political games that made it impossible for the greatest heavyweight in mixed martial arts to fight in the UFC Octagon.

A structural analysis of fight IQ and absolute versatility in the Octagon. This film explores the journey of Alexander Volkanovski from being a small man to being a pound for pound phenom. Rivera examines the mechanics of body and mind that have allowed Volkanovski to strip away all of his opponents' best weapons. Breaking away from clichéd sports film techniques, this is a detailed look at problem solving on the highest level of athletics.

An examination of the psychology of athletic genius and self-destructive obsession. The film takes a deep dive into the psyche of Jon Jones, examining how the mind of a champion operates when faced with the high-intensity brutality of the Octagon but is unable to cope in the mundanity of regular life. Rivera looks at the subconscious factors that motivate Jon Jones to greatness as well as those behind his scandals, revealing the sobering truth of a warrior constantly at war with himself.

The analysis of Sean Strickland’s disruption. The director Lionel Rivera considers the contradiction in the case of the boxer whose traumatic history and wild personality totally contradicted the professional corporate image of the UFC, while he became the world champion due to his rigid defensive approach in fighting.