Few sports have experienced the sort of rapid growth enjoyed by mixed martial arts. Over the course of the last decade or so, MMA has become one of the most watched sports in America, turning once unknown fighters into world-renowned athletes. However, there's a dark side to this world that not many people consider, and it's that very same dark side that the upcoming documentary The Hurt Business intends to explore. A new trailer for the upcoming film has just hit the web, and it's as intense as it is interesting; check it out below.
It's plainly obvious from the above trailer for The Hurt Business that the documentary seeks to deconstruct everything we think we know about MMA. By taking a long, hard look at this particular section of the sports world, The Hurt Business paints fighters in a much different light than the typical stoic badasses we have come to expect from ESPN highlight reels. Major fighters like Jon Jones and Ronda Rousey come forward and give their honest, candid thoughts about the lifestyle they have chosen for themselves and present an unflinching look at the mentality of an average fighter.
Perhaps the most interesting thing to note about The Hurt Business is just how pensive the movie feels. The trailer seems to advertise a movie that's far more concerned with the far-reaching emotional and physical consequences of MMA than the immediate glory experienced by the champions in the ring. However, it also doesn't demonize the sport; it appears to present a fair and balanced take on a specific community within the sports world, and gives a certain amount of credence to all opinions towards MMA. This film comes to us from the same people who produced Bowling For Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11, so it's safe to say that these guys know how to craft a genuinely compelling and even-handed documentary.
It's not hard to see why filmmakers would want to make a documentary like The Hurt Business. As a full-contact combat sport, MMA has drawn an immense amount of fanfare as well as criticism during its short by rapid growth as a mainstream sport. With movies like Concussion and Creed examining the long-term ramifications of professional football, and boxing, respectively, it makes sense that MMA would also fall under the magnifying glass. It's compelling, but it's also important.
We will bring you more information related to The Hurt Business as it becomes available to us. The upcoming documentary will hit theaters this fall.
