Predictably Formulaic
I went in hoping for something fresh but got exactly what you'd expect from this genre. The whole "troubled past to heroic redemption" thing has been done a million times, and this doesn't bring anything new to the table. Danny Trejo basically plays Danny Trejo again, which isn't necessarily bad but feels lazy.
The MMA scenes were decent enough - solid choreography and good production values. What bothered me was how predictable everything felt. You know from minute one exactly where this story's heading. The immigrant angle had potential to add depth, but it mostly just felt like checking boxes rather than genuine storytelling.
The pacing dragged in the middle when they tried to develop the emotional stuff. I found myself more interested during the fight sequences than the character moments, which probably isn't what they were going for.
Is it worth watching? If you're really into MMA movies and don't mind formulaic plots, maybe. But there are way better redemption stories out there. This one plays it too safe and doesn't earn its emotional beats.
The MMA scenes were decent enough - solid choreography and good production values. What bothered me was how predictable everything felt. You know from minute one exactly where this story's heading. The immigrant angle had potential to add depth, but it mostly just felt like checking boxes rather than genuine storytelling.
The pacing dragged in the middle when they tried to develop the emotional stuff. I found myself more interested during the fight sequences than the character moments, which probably isn't what they were going for.
Is it worth watching? If you're really into MMA movies and don't mind formulaic plots, maybe. But there are way better redemption stories out there. This one plays it too safe and doesn't earn its emotional beats.
- muzotime_UZBEK
- 1 sep 2025