Fight Life

Not a fan of mixed martial arts (MMA) and hardly follow the sport, but I found this documentary fascinating and insightful.

Both my brothers train in MMA styles at their gyms, but they do not fight competitively. After watching this documentary, I'm very glad of it. I also learned a greater appreciation for what MMA entails.

Never saccharine or emotionally manipulative, the film presents an honest depiction of MMA fighters at different levels in the sport, their training, and some of their personal struggles. I found the personal reasons for the fighters' pursuit of the sport to be very compelling.

Also provides information about the MMA culture, its increasing popularity, and its path to recognition as a sport.

Even for someone who doesn't follow MMA, this documentary proved to be entertaining and informative. They could not have picked two fighters more disparate than Shields and Beerbohm to follow. Their contrasting regimens and backgrounds were two different windows in the same house of MMA, and although it doesn't cover the entire spectrum of the sport, it represented the sport's unique culture and its affect on the fighters in a very honest way. The ending, not the happiest, but it was real, and relatable. A must-see for anyone who is a fan of MMA, but more importantly, to anyone who appreciates unrelenting dedication, passion, and hard-work. Does it pay off? As we learn in Fight Life, yes, but not always in money.