Reviewer "A_Different_Drummer" nailed what I wanted to say about this awesome film. It had it all - drama, sport, mma action, family, romance, etc. And in the way it was shown - part Lifetime Movie style and part Documentary, worked perfectly. It lacked all the Hollywood dazzle, and that was refreshing for a change. I'm still not sure if this is based on a true story, especially when I recognized some famous UFC fighters in this film.
Alex Ranarivelo directed, and also wrote this story with Sean Patrick Flanery, who also starred in this film. The cinematography was decent, as was the score. The pacing felt a little slow, and I feel if it was a little faster and/or 10-15 mins shaved off the 112 min runtime, it would've shown better. The story flowed really well, with some unexpected surprises and twists. It will fill you with suspense and play with your emotions. Performances were convincing, and it was good to see Mr. Quaid in this one.
Overall this film was much better than I expected, and it's a "recommend", and I'll probably see it again. It's a well deserved 8/10 from me. To see my review criteria, or more of my 1000+ reviews, click on my username. Then go see this little gem. Even if you're not a fan of UFC or MMA, the story will keep you entertained.