FIGHTING POLITICS (2010)

Documentary (0:01:26) United StatesUnratedDocumentary, Cage Fighting

"FIGHTING POLITICS" follows one of the best cage fighters in the business as he puts his Greco-Roman Wrestling skills to the test to see if he can be #1. As Matt Lindland sets forth into MMA he quickly realizes that this might be a lot harder than he thought. Also Filmmaker David Vahey chronicles the controversy surrounding mixed martial artist Matt Lindland, whose promising career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship was cut short when he was dismissed for wearing the wrong clothing at a pre-match event. Did the UFC have a legitimate beef? Or was UFC chief Dana White determined to protect UFC's golden-boy athletes by railroading the up-and-coming Lindland? Along with his supporters, Lindland weighs in.

The Oregonian

source: http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2009/06/beyond_the_multiplex_june_1218.html

"The makers of this local-interest documentary were smart to assume that plenty of people (me included) don't know the first thing about the rapidly growing but still niche-interest sport of mixed martial arts. "

by Heidi Williams, The Oregonian

"FIGHTING POLITICS"

The makers of this local-interest documentary were smart to assume that plenty of people (me included) don't know the first thing about the rapidly growing but still niche-interest sport of mixed martial arts. "Fighting Politics" engagingly and thoroughly (sometimes too much so) explains the basics and story of MMA through Eagle Creek's Matt Lindland, a hypercompetitive Olympic wrestler with a remarkable set of big, chewed-up ears. The workmanlike Lindland bruised his way to the Ultimate Fighting Championship cage-fighting elite before running afoul of UFC leadership and being banned for a superficial wardrobe violation. It's all political, the film argues, as was Lindland's unsuccessful run for an Oregon Legislature seat in 2008. One gets the sense he did it mainly for the competition.



Other Press Reviews
  • LoveMMA.com (on 05/04/10)
    "Good film. 4 Stars. A must have for any MMA fan. "
    by Justin Perez
  • Spokane Film Festival (on 05/04/10)
    "“Fighting Politics”: Mixed-martial artist Matt Lindland is an unforgettable character, one whose career proves that sometimes being the best still isn’t good enough."
    by Dan Webster