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MMA Video Tribute: 9 ‘Falling Tree’ Knockouts

‘Fighting’: Not Another Teen Movie About Underground MMA


(When you see it, you’ll shit bricks. Image courtesy of FilmDrunk.)

You thought Never Back Down was hardcore? Bro, you have no idea. FilmDrunk gives us the heads-up about another sure-to-be-amazing MMA-related movie in production, which is called, simply, Fighting. No, it’s not about professional mixed martial artists working their asses off to break through in the most demanding sport on Earth, because how boring would that be? It’s about an underground fight league, and it stars a pretty-boy named Channing Tatum. Dig the plot synopsis:

Small-town boy Shawn MacArthur (Tatum) has come to New York City with nothing. Barely earning a living selling counterfeit goods on the streets, his luck changes when scam artist Harvey Boarden (Terrence Howard*) sees that he has a natural talent for streetfighting**. When Harvey offers Shawn help at making the real cash, the two form an uneasy partnership.
 
As Shawn’s manager, Harvey introduces him to the corrupt bare-knuckle circuit, where rich men bet on disposable pawns***. Almost overnight, he becomes a star brawler****, taking down professional boxers, mixed martial arts champs***** and ultimate fighters****** in a series of staggeringly intense bouts. But if Shawn ever hopes to escape the dark world in which he’s found himself, he must now face the toughest fight of his life.*******

* I was surprised enough when Djimon Housou signed on for NBD. How did they convince the Oscar-nominated Howard to play a street hustler in a teenybopper fighting flick? Was he worried that he was becoming too well-respected?

** "Ay mayn, I saw the kimura-lock you put on that crackhead. You could go places with that shit."

*** No they don’t. This "underground fighting circuit" fantasy has been portrayed in countless movies, at least since Lionheart, and it needs to end. We have above-ground fighting circuits now, and they really exist, and they’re awesome.


**** How does one define stardom in the illegal brawling world? Does Shawn score the cover of Outdated Movie Cliche Weekly?

***** I wouldn’t exactly call Dan Quinn a "champ" — but the WAMMA light-heavyweight belt was on the line, so I guess its legitimate. 

****** For the unfamiliar, "Ultimate Fighters" are like mixed martial artists, except they have the powers of flight and invisibility.

******* Eczema.

Related: Our buddies at ScreenJunkies hear that Mickey Rourke has joined the cast of The Expendables, that Sly Stallone joint co-starring Randy Couture. I just saw The Wrestler, and Rourke kicked fucking ass. So as cool as this news is, I kind of hope the Natural doesn’t get any scenes with Mickey Crazy-Face, because he’d get completely tooled, acting-wise.

Comments

  1. Farthammer Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:19


    Oooh, he's a washed-up wrestler from the 80s barely hanging on, looking for redemption! It's like a metaphor for his real life! Clayface sucks. Get him and his 13 mini-dogs out of here.
  2. imjustadudeman Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:21


    frick. not again.
  3. Kadumel Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:21


    Farthammer if I thought Mickey Rourke was a good actor and Oscar worthy I would tell you to shut your fat wallowed-out-from-man-sausage mouth. But since I am not a troll I won't say that.
  4. Malannon Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:22


    From the headline, i thought this was going to be a movie along the lines of "Scream". I was half expecting the Waynes Brothers to jump up and start doing Karate moves. I was hopeful! I would watch that, hell, It could be funny.... Funny sad, not funny Ha-ha. Now that I read the article, well, now I'm fully prepared to kill myself.
  5. Hebrew Hammerfist Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:24


    Ummm...is anyone else a little confused about the turtle in the lower left-hand corner? Am I seeing things?
  6. Joe joe Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:25


    .. there is a turtle in that pic..
  7. Dr. Gonzo Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:27


    Is the turtle the ref? If so, props for realism
  8. Derekrva Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:27


    OH MY GOD... Whats up with the turtle in the picture. Is he the ref or the odds maker?
  9. Dr. Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:29


    Straight to DVD. Howard must be reeling after being dropped from Iron Man 2. Amazing what sounds like a good idea in Hollywood.
  10. C-Bus Allstar Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:30


    Mickey Rourke is a beast. I've been a huge fan ever since Sin City introduced me to him..
  11. Walrus Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:31


    Mickey Rourkes the shit How could anyone say anything different?
  12. devilmonkey Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:31


    The turtle is the hard-edged sensai with a heart of gold that teaches Shawn not only how to fight, but also how to love.
  13. mma-pro Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:33


    no that is just steve mazzagatti dressed like a turtle
  14. TwinCityTapout Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:43


    I dont understand
  15. Anonymous Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:47


    Yeah, Chan Tatum used to go to my highschool where he was a good highschool athlete......until afterwards when he became a male dancer. Middle aged women everywhere were pissed when he starred in Step Up cause the lap dances were over. :0(
  16. Sweep the Leg Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:48


    The turtle is obviously either Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello, or Raphael. It is hard to tell because this scene is obviously before he has been exposed to the radioactive toxic waste that mutated him into semi-human form, and therefore prior to the four donning their respective colors and training in their particular weapons. I always thought it was Splinter that taught them their martial arts, but maybe Hollywood doesn't think a mutant rat will sell as well as a "small town pretty boy that moved to the big city."
  17. Perdew Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 12:53


    @ C-Bus Allstar what grade are you in? seriously, who the fuck discovered mickey rourke from sin city??? he even performed on bowie's album never let me down. that's talent. try watching rumble fish or the pope of greenwhich village
  18. Douchebaggery Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 01:02


    the "turtle head" "poking out" is a metaphor for what a toilet bowl of a movie this will be
  19. Old, Bald and Irish Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 01:08


    Aw, man. "C-Bus Allstar", you make me feel even Older, Balder and Irish-ier. I saw Rourke in "Angel Heart"...in the theaters. Glad to see his career is back on track. my advise to everyone is to avoid this turd and take the time to watch "Redbelt", which was actually a very good movie. It's not an MMA film, but totally worth watching. If you wanna see a good MMA beat-'em-flick, check out Wu Jing in "Fatal Contact". Now go "NetFlix" those muthers!
  20. Old, Bald and Irish Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 01:09


    WHOA! "Douchebaggery" with the second "Comment of the Week"!
  21. Farthammer Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 01:16


    The Turtle is Homophobic Turtle, I believe. You guys should read that site if you like movies at all; FilmDrunk is pretty fucking funny. OBI - Angel Heart was pretty cool. And that's not even counting the Cosby-kid boob-bonus.
  22. DDT Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 01:17


    I know this movie sounds bad but I heard that the main character is actually a werewolf and he has to try and maintain his human form when fighting...too bad his biggest fight is under a full moon...uh oh. That twist I think will make this movie worth watching.
  23. Criminally Negligent Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 01:24


    Bloodsport is the gold standard of the genre.
  24. And as El Guapo always Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 01:59


    I thought that was a screen shot for the sequel to brokeback mountain
  25. google Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 02:30


    If you think he was good in sin city, you should check out Get Carter, with Sly also, and My personal fav Harley Davidson and Marlboro Man.
  26. JesseL Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 02:50


    You thought Never Back Down was hardcore? Bro, you have no idea. Lol!
  27. Eveboy420 Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 03:24


    Umm Classic Rourke movies! 9&1/2 weeks Kim Basinger nekkid!! yes Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man, Rumble Fish, Man On Fire(not a huge Rourke role but wut a wicked flick!) Domino, Year of the Dragon... thats all i could think of right now yea that guy is the shit as its been said all over Hollywood theres only one real badboy in Hollywood and its him! that guy loves his drinking,drugs and fighting atleast he use to.
  28. Patrick Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 03:34


    I already saw this movie, it was called Gladiator about 15 years ago. Same concept, just boxing instead.
  29. Dmonicideals Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 03:56


    Gladiator? You bet he was!
  30. Billy Bad Ass Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 04:44


    The Turtle is Film Drunk's mascot.
  31. Lysol Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 06:37


    Okay, over or under: 50 times the TapouT logo appears in this movie.
  32. sPeLLcHeCkEr Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 06:56


    LOL @ "mma-pro Says: no that is just steve mazzagatti dressed like a turtle" But, Mazzagatti already IS a turtle...?
  33. Anonymous Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 07:15


    LMAO
  34. richorama Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 07:54


    "We have above-ground fighting circuits now, and they really exist, and they're awesome." That's muthafuckin' right.
  35. fuck get carter Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 08:08


    get carter is about as lame as sly stallone downing his hgh shakes. although it sounds like this movie took some cues. weak, unbelievable, horrible acting, lame action. yup, sounds like "get carter 2: electric boogaloo" eat shit google
  36. Whisper Says:

    Wed, 01/07/09 - 10:11


    LOL @ many of these comments! The screenshot looks kind of like a gay porn version of Never Back Down (whose title would not have to be changed in its transition from bad teen movie about fighting to gay movie about teen f*cking).
  37. Terjay Says:

    Thu, 01/08/09 - 02:29


    Really... Go watch The Wrestler. It's awesome.
  38. Surfin Dave Says:

    Thu, 01/08/09 - 09:10


    Damn, just like Hollywood to make the Kimbo Slice story, but recast the older black man as a younger white guy. And let me guess, they replace Seth Petruzelli with a bigger black man (maybe Kimbo in a cameo?) but white-Kimbo beats the Seth character in the movie version so we can have a happy ending and $kala is a hero for making it all happen. Of course, the sequel will have white-Kimbo taking on the big, mean, evil Russian dude who everyone considers the best fighter in the world.
  39. thetuf75 Says:

    Thu, 01/08/09 - 10:01


    Is this a remake of the film GLADIATOR with Cuba gooding Jr and James Marshall?
  40. moda Says:

    Sun, 02/13/11 - 04:37


    After looking through this post I have decided to subscribe to your rss feed. I believe your future posts will end up being just as informative.

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