The first trailer for RADII STUDIOS’ upcoming two-part, MMA-focused mini-documentary Way of the Warrior officially dropped earlier this week, and we’re beyond amped to share this sneak peek with our readers and the broader mixed martial arts community.
The 43-second teaser is set to adrenaline-triggering rhythmic percussion and features footage of up-and-coming Chinese MMA talents — Song Yadong (宋亚东), Shi Ming (石铭), and Qiu Lun (求伦) — getting themselves in peak fighting condition.
Directed by Billy Starman and produced and filmed across China and the US, Way of the Warrior reveals the challenges faced by Chinese fighters pursuing their championship dreams at the highest level of competition in their sport — the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Among the profiled fighters, Qiu Lun comes from a humble family background in Southwest China’s Sichuan province, and — after a stint at the renowned Enbo Fight Club — is now fighting for a shot at competing in the UFC.
Qiu Lun
Meanwhile, Song Yadong leads the pack as number nine globally in the bantamweight class. The doc follows this fearless challenger as he moves to California to train with UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber, the founder of Team Alpha Male.
Also featured in the film is Shi Ming, a student of traditional Chinese medicine who also kicks ass inside the Octagon. Inspired by UFC world champion Zhang Weili, Shi breaks social norms and challenges gender stereotypes in China.
Shi Ming
The personalities in Way of the Warrior come from not only across China but from around the world and across the socio-economic spectrum. Their bonds of friendship and commitment to the sport they love highlight a powerful truth: Sports know no boundaries.
“We’re thrilled about the release of this film, one that goes beyond the fabled Octagon battles but also gets to the true heart of what drives these athletes, those who support them, and the trials and tribulations they must endure in their pursuit of glory,” says Executive Producer Brian A. Wong.
UFC Performance Institute Shanghai
If you fancy yourself an MMA fan, you’ll need to check out the first installment of Way of the Warrior when it drops on YouTube and radiichina.com on April 13, 2022. The second and final episode will be released on April 27.
We’ll be unleashing a follow-up trailer for Way of the Warrior in the not-so-distant future, so keep an eye on RADII’s YouTube and official social media channels.
Oh, and we’d be negligent not to mention: RADII readers are invited to attend the online premier of both episodes of Way of the Warrior on April 13. This event will include an informative panel discussion with some of the filmmakers and profiled fighters. Click here to sign up.
For more lit content exploring the rise of MMA in China, check out our Way of the Warrior series.
All images via Way of the Warrior
