There are more than 450 million MMA fans in the world, and Australia represents a significant percentage. If you’re one of these 450 million, you love MMA in every format, whether it’s live events, fighter profiles, or MMA movies.
Whether you’re a new MMA fan or a veteran, MMA movies are a great way to lose yourself in the world of the sport with dramatic plots, extreme characters, and thrilling fights.
If you’re looking for fighting movies to watch, it can be difficult to pick the best ones. So we’ve done the work for you! We’ve sifted through all the mixed martial arts movies we could get our hands on and have narrowed them down to the best of the best.
So if you’re looking for the five best MMA movies, read on!
1. Warrior
This 2011 hit stars Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton. They play two brothers raised by an alcoholic father, Paddy, played by Nick Nolte. Paddy raised the two as high school wrestlers and boxers, and both ended up fighting MMA professionally.
The brothers are estranged and are forced to confront each other when they enter the same MMA tournament. They’ll end up having to face each other in the ring for the championship, testing both their family ties and their fighting skills.
The plot of this movie is riveting, and the fight scenes are some of our favourites. The fight scenes are so well choreographed that some reviewers say they were sure the actors were actually fighting each other!
The excitement, well-crafted plot, and thrilling combat of this movie have it at the top of our list of the best recent MMA movies.
2. Undisputed 2
This film is a sequel to the film Undisputed, but you don’t have to watch the prequel to enjoy it.
Undisputed 2 follows ex-boxer George Chambers, also known as “Iceman.” Iceman is played by Michael Jai White, who takes on the role with his usual gusto and zeal. Iceman heads to Russia for a few bouts but ends up framed for cocaine possession, landing him in jail (again).
In jail, he stumbles on an underground scene of MMA matches arranged by the guards who line their pockets with betting money. Iceman enters these matches to earn his freedom, and the film follows his harrowing, brutal journey.
This film far surpassed Undisputed in popularity, uncommon for a sequel. The plot is relatively straightforward, but the choreography and acting make this film compelling. The stakes are high, and the fights are well directed and completely suck the viewer in.
You can rent Undisputed 2 for $3.99 SD or $4.99 HD on YouTube (Australia)
3. Undisputed 3
If you watch Undisputed 2, you might as well keep the story going with Undisputed 3, another one of our favourites. The plot follows Yuri Boyka, one of Iceman’s rivals, in prison. He works hard to overcome injuries and steep odds to enter an inter-prison tournament.
Boyka seeks to find redemption and freedom through the tournament. His mantra, “Improvise, adapt, overcome,” carries him through grimy prison brawls, corruption, and stacked odds. We were struck by Boyka’s endurance, drive, and motivation and loved watching him brawl his way to redemption.
You can rent Undisputed 3 for $4.99 on Amazon Prime (Australia)
4. Redbelt
This film follows Mike Terry, an MMA instructor in a grungy world of street-wise rogues and tricksters. His business is struggling, but his dedication to quality keeps his few customers loyal.
Mike’s rough neighbourhood has him saving an action star from an attack and thrusts him into the film industry. Mike’s belief in honour is soon tested by fixed fights and dramatic situations. Mike is forced to decide if he will sacrifice what he believes in on his journey to win a prizefight.
This film is directed by David Mamet, who is known for his dialogue, world construction, and plot twists. This film is no exception – featuring quick wits, compelling settings, and dramatic reveals that will knock your socks off!
You can rent Redbelt for $3.99 SD or $4.99 HD on YouTube (Australia)
5. Kingdom
Kingdom isn’t a film; it’s a TV show, making it great for bite-size viewings or full binge-watching sessions. This show follows an MMA gym in LA, which is struggling to stay afloat.
Kingdom covers the sport as a whole, beyond just winning and losing. It covers the greater motivations of MMA fighters, their relationships, and their struggles with head and heart.
The plot is quick-paced, with lots of volatile fight scenes, drug use and emotional revelations. In many ways Kingdom shows the darker side of the sport of Mixed Martial Arts.
You can watch Kingdom for free on 7Plus (Australia)
Honourable Mentions
If five recommendations aren’t enough, we have a few other best fighting movies to add to the list. These films aren’t as exceptional as the preceding MMA movies, but they’re still solid picks for a night in.
The Philly Kid
A former wrestling champion is on parole after a wrongful murder conviction. His friend is in trouble with debtors, and he has to step back into the ring to pay off the debt. He’ll have to face obstacles and a system stacked against him to save his friend from the loan sharks.
Fighting
Fighting stars Channing Tatum as Shawn, a troubled kid with a natural talent for fighting. Shawn is recruited into a world of illegal fights against brutal opponents.
Never Back Down
A high schooler finds himself humiliated by a school bully and takes up MMA, which channels his rage at his family circumstances. Through MMA, he comes to terms with himself and his father’s death and finds a new feeling of empowerment. This is one MMA fighter movie on Netflix, although others are available depending on your location.
Here Comes the Boom
This film, produced by Adam Sandler, joins the world of fighting with the world of comedy. Kevin James plays a biology teacher who returns to MMA to save his school’s music department. A classic underdog tale, this surprisingly funny and heartfelt film is thrilling.
Bone and Blood
Starring Michale Jai White in his element, this film evokes the feeling of classic Van Damme films. Bone and Blood has some of the most exciting fight scenes of all the above Hollywood MMA movies. With scenes like these, you can understand why MMA is one of the most popular sports in Australia.
Enjoy the Best MMA Movies Tonight
If you love combat sports, chances are you’ll also love martial arts movies. Now that you have a place to start, you can plan your next movie night packed with MMA movies, thrilling fights, and compelling characters. You can’t go wrong with any of the above films.
These films are essential viewing for the MMA fan, and we should know. We’re big MMA fans ourselves, which is why we started In2MMA, your source for MMA news, fighter profiles, and more. Check us out and share your passion with us!
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