When I use Netflix and have to decide what to watch, then chances are that I first dive into the documentary section. It’s a genre which I watch a lot and the number of good documentaries I’ve seen is high. I came across this title and as I always found martial arts interesting, I was very curious what was on offer this film. It introduced me to a world I did not know, that of the backyard fights.
It’s a very raw event, there is a small ring and these fights have virtually no rules. The fighters wear no gloves and are hitting each other with their bare fists. Although the fights are illegal, the entire neighbourhood shows up to see them. The police even condone them, because in the poor neighborhoods outside of Miami, it is indeed a time in which the violence takes place mainly in the ring.
The fights are organized by Dada 5000, who previously was a bodyguard for former street fighter Kimbo Slice. He’s passionate about this subculture and with passion, along with his team, organizes and promotes fights. When he gets the chance to fight in the UFC however, he must decide whether he still wants to organise the fights, because if he doesn’t he runs the risk of not getting a UFC license.
Dawg Fight is a very raw documentary, in which the fights are hard. The movie is shot in a pale color palette and makes you feel that it is a place you wouldn’t want to be. The men who participate take great risks, since there is no official medical assistance available, they earn just a little money, but they do it because they have hope that they will be seen by promoters on Youtube and get a chance to build a better life. That choice to fight to possibly escape present existence is understandable because during the documentary one of the fighters outside of the ring ends up in critical condition. A documentary that is not afraid to show the seamy side of America.
