Charles Lewis founded TapouT in 1997, prompting a whirlwind life that intersected the birth of a sport. Selling TapouT apparel out of the trunk of his car during road trips throughout California, a hot bed of mixed martial arts in the late 1990s, Lewis took on the superhero persona of “Mask" as he donned war paint on his face and wore outlandish comic book outfits. Mask's vision quickly came to represent hardcore aspects of MMA fandom at a time when the sport floundered under political pressure. The history of MMA cannot be told without mentioning Charles “Mask” Lewis, or the era in which he emerged. On March 11, 2009, Lewis was killed by a drunk driver in Newport Beach, Calif. To honor his contributions, the sport's dominant promoter, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), posthumously inducted "Mask" as the first and only non-fighter into the UFC Hall of Fame.
The historical impact of Mexican fighters in mixed martial arts.
The film explores Mauro Ranallo’s career, including his work on the two biggest pay-per-view events in television history, and his relentless pursuit of a childhood dream despite seemingly insurmountable odds. Through this deeply personal portrait, Ranallo hopes that the film might inspire others to persevere in pursuing their dreams despite the challenges of a mental health condition.
The UFC has been breaking records and shattering expectations for 20 years -- this documentary traces the history of the company
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Combattants
A look at the life and career of Ultimate Fighting Champion's welterweight world champ Georges St-Pierre, also known as "GSP".
Welcome to the world of no-holds-barred freestyle fighting...the fastest growing "sport" in the United States, Brazil, and Japan. CHOKE follows undisputed World Freestyle Fighting Champion Rickson Gracie as he prepares to defend his title in a one-night, single elimination tournament where the winner will fight 3 separate fights over five hours. The World Cup finals of hand-to-hand combat.
Shamrock: Bound by Blood, a gripping 65-minute documentary that airs Thursday on Spike (11 p.m. ET), stirs up a few ghosts still haunting the MMA personality. There's a lot of story to tell (Spike producers said they bandied the fighter's 2012 memoirs around the office to begin), but wisely, Shamrock focuses mostly on Frank's deteriorated relationship with his iconic brother Ken. Frank and Ken, a weathered UFC Hall of Famer still trying to ply his trade at age 49, haven't spoken in nearly 15 years. ... For MMA enthusiasts, Shamrock will be an enlightening hour. It also takes a more serious tone than Spike's previous MMA programming. But at its heart, Shamrock is not about MMA. It's about love and hurt, and finding forgiveness and acceptance in the face of dysfunction. For Frank, on his own road of self-improvement, it was about finding peace.
A mixed martial arts fighter discovers she’s pregnant in the lead-up to the most important fight of her career.
An unflinching look at the life and story of Mark Kerr between 1999 and 2001, an intelligent, articulate, and emotionally vulnerable athlete, considered by many at the time to be the most dominant ultimate fighter in the world. A former Olympic wrestler, Kerr easily dominated all his opponents, earning him the nickname "The Smashing Machine." With the promise of big money and the euphoria of his early victories, Kerr must battle his injuries and inner fears. The shock of these fights takes a heavy toll on his body and mind, and Kerr attempts to overcome these physical and psychological traumas by turning to painkillers. Kerr's addiction is shown in its raw form, with the camera capturing him desperately soliciting drugs from friends and staff, and injecting painkillers into his veins. His shocking defeat to Fujita in Japan shows us a story that is sometimes difficult and heartbreaking to watch.
Chronicles the daily lives of professional MMA fighters from all different levels over the course of one year.
A documentary about the confluence of Christianity and mixed martial arts, including ministries which train fighters. The film follows several pastors and popular fighters in their quest to reconcile their faith with a sport that many consider violent and barbaric. Faith is tried and questions are raised. Can you really love your neighbor as yourself and then punch him in the face?
The captivating story of Chad George, this documentary chronicles the climactic final bout of George's fifteen-year tenure as a celebrated mixed martial arts fighter. As we intimately explore his transformative transition into a mentor and coach for up-and-coming champions, we witness his unwavering determination and resilience in the face of adversity. The film is a testament to the unyielding human spirit and the pursuit of greatness.
A documentary that follows Michelle "The Karate Hottie" Waterson as she balances life as a mother and professional MMA fighter.
A universal underdog tale with its own unique lens. Out of the ashes of loss, can one man use mixed martial arts to save young people from the toughest parts of our society? Zero opportunity, poverty and crime are common themes in the housing estates of Sunderland, North East England. A once proud region of industry, now a wasteland scattered with the relics of the past, as generations of government continue to neglect it.
UFC Hits: Volume 1 highlights many of the Ultimate Fighting Championships greatest and most notorious fights from the UFC's early days. See where it all began with clips of the best fights featuring original MMA stars, some who are now in the UFC Hall of Fame, like Don Frye and Randy Couture, Royce Gracie and Kimo, John Hess and Andy Anderson, Tito Ortiz and Guy Mesger. This highlight reel has enough knockouts and submissions to keep any MMA fan entertained.
A dynamic and emotional story of fighting, passion and sacrifice. From 2016 to 2018, the filmmakers accompanied Joanna Jedrzejczyk, a multiple UFC champion, who at her time conquered the world of female MMA. To stay on top, the Polish fighter has to constantly confront her opponents and her own body, which is forced to make superhuman efforts over and over again. "Invincible" reveals the behind-the-scenes fights of modern gladiators, bluntly showing the blood, sweat, tears and overwhelming loneliness that are the price of the road to success in sports on a global scale.
A look back at the best moments from 2011 in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, featuring 30 matches in total. Among the fighters whose exploits captured the imagination of UFC viewers in 2011 were Junior dos Santos, Frankie Edgar, Tito Ortiz, Wanderlei Silva and Minotauro Nogueira, while, for many, the encounter between Dan Henderson and Shogun Rua stands as the most memorable fight of the decade.
With upsets, blowouts, submissions, a new weight class and one spinning-elbow knockout, UFC Best of 2014 recaps the year in 90 spellbinding minutes. Look back at defining moments from dominant titleholders including Jon Jones and Ronda Rousey, newly crowned champions including Carla Esparza and T.J. Dillashaw and white-hot stars on the rise like Conor McGregor. Plus, nearly four hours of bonus fights bring you all the action from signature performances by stars such as Johnny Hendricks, Robbie Lawler, Chris Weidman, Dan Henderson and more.