First off, I need to mention that the 2006 release date is misleading since this was filmed primarily in 1997-98 with some follow-up footage in 2000-01. So it mostly covers the "dark era" of MMA when it was still banned from PPV in America and before it became sanctioned by state athletic associations. Back then the UFC ran small shows in the South or overseas.
But you wouldn't learn most of what I just wrote from this somewhat bland 60 minute documentary. Really, it was just a bunch of fight and interview footage with no central theme other than "these are MMA fighters". It didn't attempt to explain the history of MMA at all. Still, as an MMA fan, this film was worth the watch, because it had plenty of fight footage. (This is an advantage of being a "dark era" film, because there's no way a small-budget production like this gets the same kind of footage now that the UFC is a profitable and fast becoming mainstream.)
Just as the title states, it's about MMA fighters. They obviously chose to focus the lion share of the 60 minute film on Randy Couture, since he's become one of the most popular guys in MMA. (Hence the 2006 release date at the height of his popularity). It does a pretty good job covering his early MMA career. The remaining time covers unknown amateurs fighting in small shows. I won't give anything away, but it's interesting to look them up on Sherdog and see how their fight careers went.
So MMA fans may find this a decent film, but I doubt anyone else would.
But you wouldn't learn most of what I just wrote from this somewhat bland 60 minute documentary. Really, it was just a bunch of fight and interview footage with no central theme other than "these are MMA fighters". It didn't attempt to explain the history of MMA at all. Still, as an MMA fan, this film was worth the watch, because it had plenty of fight footage. (This is an advantage of being a "dark era" film, because there's no way a small-budget production like this gets the same kind of footage now that the UFC is a profitable and fast becoming mainstream.)
Just as the title states, it's about MMA fighters. They obviously chose to focus the lion share of the 60 minute film on Randy Couture, since he's become one of the most popular guys in MMA. (Hence the 2006 release date at the height of his popularity). It does a pretty good job covering his early MMA career. The remaining time covers unknown amateurs fighting in small shows. I won't give anything away, but it's interesting to look them up on Sherdog and see how their fight careers went.
So MMA fans may find this a decent film, but I doubt anyone else would.
