Mark Hunt: The Fight of his Life: NZIFF Review

It's hard to dispute the downright affability of Mark Hunt in this doco that's as flashy as it is grounded.

Essentially an underdog story that's nowhere near any kind of conclusion, Mark Hunt: The Fight of his Life sees director Peter Brook Bell spending time in the company of the MMA fighter who's determined to clean the sport up and rid it of its cheats and corruptions.

It's hard not to check off the cliche count of this ascent to the top story as Bell delivers punch after punch of Hunt revealing trauma in his childhood, enjoyment of jail (because it gave him the square meals a day he was missing at home) and his desire to deal to the "crooked cheats and crooked companies" who deny those who work hard like himself a level playing field.

But sports films, as such, are rarely surprising matters, and the trajectory of Mark Hunt: The Fight of his Life is little change to the formula.

While elements of the doco feel almost like hagiography in their depiction of Hunt and his fighting skills, it's important to note that rarely any of his opponents or those who he is accusing even offer any kind of response to the claims. It may be that Bell was stymied by the long legal arm of the MMA world to prevent that from happening, but it is a rare fault of the story that's told.

Equally a couple of familial elements that come to the fore at the end feel like they're out of the blue, and should have commanded a bit more depth than they do. 

However, what matters in Mark Hunt: The Fight of his Life is the titular Mark Hunt himself.

At turns vulnerable, at others humble and honest of his failings and issues, Hunt is an admirable figure, a character who's aware of their past, present and future as well as any foibles to make the almost 90 minute run time feel like a worthwhile investment.

In truth, Mark Hunt: The Fight of his Life could have damned the MMA a little more - this is, after all, the organisation which denied the producers the chance to buy the rights to screen footage from Hunt's fights throughout, and which has seen Hunt engaged in long legal spats. 

But Bell is less interested in these matters, and more concerned with exploring what makes the Samoan fighter tick and how his ideals and ideologies come into play in a sport that's riddled with issues. It's not an uncommon trait to hail an honest man, but in sports docos, it is rare to do it with such sensitivity and humility.

Mark Hunt: The Fight of his Life may be flashily presented and slickly polished at times, but like many have done with Hunt throughout his career, you'd be a fool to write it off as just another sports doco.