20 Best MMA Movies of All Time

MMA as a sport was only established in the mid-90s but in that short amount of time, there has been a wide range of great MMA movies made. To honor this fact, I wanted to come up with the 20 best MMA movies of all time.

Here we look at all types of MMA movies including action, drama, and comedy. As long as they have an element of MMA, they’ve been considered for this list! Let’s get started with our countdown from 20 to 1 of the best MMA movies!

20 Best MMA Fighting Movies

Here are the best mix martial arts movies of all time! I tried to focus on movies that show mixed martial arts fought in a cage or ring. Due to this, fantastic films like Ip Man and Enter The Dragon don’t make the list as they are Wing Chun and Karate movies respectively. Without further ado, let’s get started!

20. Green Street 3: Never Back Down

Year: 2013

Director: James Nunn

Stars: Scott Adkins, Kacey Clarke, Joey Ansah

Runtime: 1h 33m

IMDb Rating: 5.2

The first two Green Street films focused on the hooligan soccer culture in the UK. However, the third and final film in the franchise puts the focus on MMA with the character of Danny Harvey being a professional MMA fighter.

He teaches his fellow Green Street members MMA to fight in a team battle to get revenge for his dead brother. The fight scenes are good and while obviously not the best film of all time, I thought it was worth a watch.

19. Tapped Out

Year: 2014

Director: Allan Ungar

Stars: Michael Biehn, Cody Hackman, Krzysztof Soszynski

Runtime: 1h 45m

IMDb Rating: 5.3

The premise of this film is very Batman as it’s about a child who witnesses the death of his parents and seeks to avenge them. In order to do that, he battles in an MMA tournament to eventually face off against the murderer.

This is a movie that picks little bits from many other movies so don’t expect the most original story here. While the plot is not going to blow your mind, it’s still an enjoyable film.

18. Damage

Year: 2009

Director: Jeff King

Stars: Steve Austin, Walton Goggins, Laura Vandervoort

Runtime: 1h 42m

IMDb Rating: 5.7

A film with Steve Austin as the star? You’d be forgiven for thinking this would be a cheesy action flick. That’s what I thought but I was proved wrong as Austin’s acting has a fair amount of emotional depth.

But of course, what you get here is plenty of great fighting scenes in a film about an ex-con who feels morally obliged to cover the costs of an operation for one of his victim’s daughters.

17. Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown

Year: 2011

Director: Michael Jai White

Stars: Michael Jai White, Dean Geyer, Alex Meraz

Runtime: 1h 43m

IMDb Rating: 5.7

The first three “Never Back Down” movies are on this list, making it one of the best MMA film franchises out there. This movie was directed by and stars film-fighting legend Michael Jai White.

The film takes us on the story of four fighters training for an MMA tournament who have to overcome several challenges along the way. While not the most impactful plot, you’ll enjoy this film for its brilliantly choreographed fight scenes and epic action.

16. The Philly Kid

Year: 2012

Director: Jason Connery

Stars: Wes Chatham, Devon Sawa, Sarah Butler

Runtime: 1h 30m

IMDb Rating: 5.6

There are a few films on this list that have the premise of someone needing to win money in an MMA tournament for some emotional reason. In the case of “The Philly Kid,” that reason is to save his friend from a loan shark.

It’s one of the best dramas on this list as there isn’t a lot of action but it does have plenty of great MMA scenes.

15. Big Stan

Year: 2007

Director: Rob Schneider

Stars: Rob Schneider, David Carradine, Sally Kirkland

Runtime: 1h 45m

IMDb Rating: 6.1

This is one of two comedies on this list and is perfect for those who want to watch an MMA film with a lighter touch. It stars Rob Schneider whose character serves time due to fraud and gets the help of a martial artist who teaches him how to fight.

With his new skillset, he takes on the corrupt prison system and gains respect along the way. Some of the jokes are a little crude but there are plenty of laughs.

14. Here Comes the Boom

Year: 2012

Director: Frank Coraci

Stars: Kevin James, Salma Hayek, Henry Winkler

Runtime: 1h 45m

IMDb Rating: 6.4

And here is the other comedy on the list, which I think is slightly better. Here the star is Kevin James who plays a teacher with dreams of becoming an MMA fighter with the help of former UFC champion, Bas Rutten.

His fights help to earn money for the school and the plot is an enjoyable one. Of course, the MMA action isn’t the most bloody or realistic but the film is a lot of fun.

13. Bruised

Year: 2020

Director: Halle Berry

Stars: Halle Berry, Adan Canto, Sheila Atim

Runtime: 2h 9m

IMDb Rating: 6.2

We’ve just looked at two comedies, but this couldn’t be more different. This is an MMA film with a “Million Dollar Baby” vibe. The story follows a disgraced MMA fighter in the form of Halle Berry’s character who must face her personal demons in and out of the cage.

I thought many of the plot elements were lifted from other films but that doesn’t stop it from being very impactful. Along with that, Berry is excellent in the film, which she also directs. If you want to watch a hard-hitting MMA movie, then don’t miss this.

12. Never Back Down: No Surrender

Year: 2016

Director: Michael Jai White

Stars: Michael Jai White, Gillian White, Esai Morales

Runtime: 1h 41m

IMDb Rating: 6.3

We’ve already looked at film number two in the franchise, and this is the third installment. Here we see the brilliant Michael Jai White play the role of Case Walker again. As you can expect, there is plenty of action here as Walker is once again tasked with saving the day.

White is electric in the role and perfectly showcases his MMA skills. The story is quite good and there are a few turns along the way to keep you interested. It shows that all the films in the “Never Back Down” series are worth a watch, as long as you forget the fourth movie exists!

11. Never Back Down

Year: 2008

Director: Jeff Wadlow

Stars: Sean Faris, Djimon Hounsou, Amber Heard

Runtime: 1h 53m

IMDb Rating: 6.5

In my view, the first “Never Back Down” film was the best. There is no doubt that this movie was an inspiration for many to take up the sport and was one of the first really good MMA movies ever made.

The story is nothing new as it’s the old bully victim overcoming the bully’s trope. While the plot is nothing groundbreaking, the way it showcases MMA is fantastic and the story is an inspiring one.

10. Blood and Bone

Year: 2009

Director: Ben Ramsey

Stars: Michael Jai White, Julian Sands, Eamonn Walker

Runtime: 1h 33m

IMDb Rating: 6.7

Here’s that man again, Michael Jai White. He knows how to sell an MMA film! Here the plot revolves around White’s character who wants to avenge the death of his friend and does so by joining an underground fighting league.

There are a wide variety of martial arts on show and the fight scenes are epic. It’s not just about action with this film, as the redemption arc has plenty of emotional moments.

9. Flashpoint

Year: 2007

Director: Wilson Yip

Stars: Donnie Yen, Louis Koo, Ray Lui

Runtime: 1h 28m

IMDb Rating: 6.7

I wanted to include Donnie Yen somewhere on this list and “Flashpoint” gives me the perfect opportunity to do so. Here he plays an inspector who goes after a powerful gang while needing to save those he loves from harm.

This film may not be as well known to Western audiences but it’s one you have to see. Donnie Yen’s exceptional skills are on show with this film being non-stop action.

8. Redbelt

Year: 2008

Director: David Mamet

Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, Emily Mortimer

Runtime: 1h 39m

IMDb Rating: 6.7

Here we see another film which is an excellent drama. It follows the journey of a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who is forced into the world of prize bouts.

It’s a thought-provoking film and one that takes you on Mike Terry’s emotional journey. The fight scenes are brilliantly done, and you even get to see some MMA royalty in the form of Randy Couture.

7. Born a Champion

Year: 2021

Director: Alex Ranarivelo

Stars: Dennis Quaid, Sean Patrick Flanery, Katrina Bowden

Runtime: 1h 52m

IMDb Rating: 6.8

This is a film that has seemed to go under the radar of many film fans, but it’s a great watch. The premise here is, well, nothing new. An expert BJJ fighter has to fight in an unsanctioned MMA tournament to try and win both money and honor.

While the premise may not be new, the script is fresh and original. It takes you on a great journey with some great BJJ and MMA action along the way. It does have a few cliché moments but overall it’s a brilliant inspirational film and I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I did.

6. Undisputed: Fight for Freedom

Year: 2016

Director: Todor Chapkanov

Stars: Scott Adkins, Teodora Duhovnikova, Alon Aboutboul

Runtime: 1h 26m

IMDb Rating: 6.9

Also called “Boyka: Undisputed IV,” this is the fourth film in the franchise, While the first film is mainly a boxing movie, the three that follow have some epic MMA scenes. This movie follows Boyka who wants to get back to the MMA big leagues after coming out of prison.

However, things take a bad turn and he ends up needing to fight for more than his personal pride. All the other films (two of which we’ll soon mention) are a great watch and showcase how good a fighting action star Scott Adkins is.

5. No Rules

Year: 2005

Director: Gerry Anderson

Stars: Randy Couture, David Fralick, Don Frye

Runtime: 1h 36m

IMDb Rating: 6.9

We’ve already mentioned Randy Couture and he’s been quite a lot of films now. Some of them are terrible, but this is one of the best. As with “Tapped Out” there is a Batman trope here of an MMA fighter haunted by the murder of his parents.

For some reason, this movie didn’t get a wide release, which is a huge shame. That also makes it hard to find but if you can get your hands on a copy, it’s a brilliant watch. There is a lot of MMA stars in the film and an engaging plot. It’s a film that should be a lot more well-known than it is.

4. Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing

Year: 2006

Director: Isaac Florentine

Stars: Michael Jai White, Scott Adkins, Ben Cross

Runtime: 1h 38m

IMDb Rating: 7.0

Here is the last entry on the list for the legend, Michael Jai White. He plays the role of George Chambers who gets sent to a Russian prison on false charges. Many see the sequel as better than the first film and I’d find it hard to disagree.

The action is explosive and it has heart-pounding sequences throughout. You’ll love the thrill ride it takes you on with some mind-blowing mixed martial arts sequences. The stylish film has many impressive performances, but for me, it’s not quite the best “Undisputed” film.

3. Undisputed III: Redemption

Year: 2010

Director: Isaac Florentine

Stars: Scott Adkins, Mykel Shannon Jenkins, Mark Ivanir

Runtime: 1h 36m

IMDb Rating: 7.3

In my opinion, the third film is even better than the second. It takes the fighting scenes to the next level and the MMA action is probably the best of any film in this list. That’s what you get when most of the cast are not only great actors but also real martial artists.

The focus of this film is people fighting for their freedom in a notoriously tough prison. While it’s a pure action film, anyone should be able to enjoy it. But if you want to watch “Undisputed III” then make sure you watch the other two films first.

2. Unbeatable

Year: 2013

Director: Dante Lam

Stars: Nick Cheung, Eddie Peng, Ting Mei

Runtime: 2h 2m

IMDb Rating: 7.2

The last two films on this list are more drama-based, with Unbeatable being an epic story that meshes together three lives and shows this story through the world of boxing and MMA.

It’s a foreign-language film but that shouldn’t stop you from watching it. It’s a beautifully shot film and the MMA sequences are fantastically choreographed. It’s a must-watch fighting film and what I consider to be second when it comes to top MMA movies.

1. Warrior

Year: 2011

Director: Gavin O’Connor

Stars: Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Joel Edgerton

Runtime: 2h 20m

IMDb Rating: 8.1

This is the best MMA film of all time and it’s not even close. It brought MMA to Hollywood with huge stars and a big budget. The film follows the story of two estranged brothers whose paths collide in an MMA tournament in Atlantic City.

The plot is fantastic and is carried by some brilliant actors. Considering they aren’t MMA fighters, the sequences are very believable, which is probably helped by Tom Hardy’s BJJ skills. The film was unsurprisingly a huge success and the realistic portrayal of MMA means that even die-hard fans can enjoy it.

FAQs

Is Warrior the best MMA movie?

Warrior is the best MMA movie ever made. It’s just impossible to find a solid argument to say it isn’t with its excellent plot, brilliant acting, and realistic MMA scenes.

What movie is related to the UFC?

There aren’t any movies directly related to the UFC. However, if you’re looking for a UFC movie, all the films on this list are cage-fighting movies. There are a few movies out there with former UFC stars in them, such as Bas Rutten in “Here Comes the Boom”.

What are the best MMA movies on Netflix?

The movies available on Netflix are constantly changing but there are a few great MMA movies available right now. The two best MMA movies on Netflix to watch would be “Warrior” and “Bruised,” with “Never Back Down 2” also being available.