RADII STUDIOS has officially released the second and final part of Way of the Warrior, a two-part documentary exploring Chinese MMA fighters’ struggles, challenges, and triumphs.

While Episode 1, released on April 13, profiled both established and up-and-coming female MMA athletes, Episode 2 zooms in on two male fighters on a journey for glory in the world’s premier fight promotion — the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Way of the Warrior’s second part follows Northeast China native Song Yadong (宋亚东), a top-ranked bantamweight fighter, as he moves to the United States to train with UFC Hall of Fame honoree Urijah Faber. The film also explores the evolving journey of Tibetan fighter Qiu Lun (求伦) as he prepares for his debut on Dana White’s Contender Series.

Like Episode 1, part two of Way of the Warrior is hosted by Nicolas Atkin, a Hong Kong-based sports journalist and editor, and takes place across China and the U.S.

Click here to watch Way of the Warrior Episode 1. View Episode 2 below:

Way of the Warrior was helmed by Executive Producer Brian A. Wong and Director Billy Starman, both of whom set out with a mission to highlight some of the incredible and inspirational stories behind the growing trend that is Chinese MMA.

“This episode provides a fascinating inside look at the lives of these athletes and the journey they take to reach the upper echelons of success. There is a tenacity and grit required to make it in this sport and a human element that connects us all,” says Wong. “The film’s director, Billy Starman, does an excellent job capturing all of this through his work.”

UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber. Screengrab via Way of the Warrior

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak in Shanghai, RADII held the global premiere for both episodes of Way of the Warrior online on April 13. The event included a brief opening, a screening of parts one and two of the doc, and a 30-minute behind-the-scenes panel discussion featuring the UFC’s senior vice president, Kevin Chang, MMA athletes Shi Ming (石铭) and Qiu Lun, as well as the film’s executive producer and director.

There will also be a wrap-up panel discussion for the film on May 11 with Urijah Faber, Song Yadong, and Peter Zheng. Stay tuned to RADII for further information in the coming days.

Hungry to discover more human stories from China’s MMA scene? Then take a look at our ongoing Way of the Warrior series.

Cover image via ‘Way of the Warrior’