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By: John M Jerva
Welcome to FOOT FIST FRIDAYS! A weekly dose of fight action where the Action-Flix.com experts share their thoughts on some of the greatest scenes of fisticuffs in action cinema history!
This week’s edition of Foot Fist Fridays is arguably one of the best western martial arts scenes ever filmed and it hails from Undisputed 3: Redemption where international action stars Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror engage in one hell of a fisticuffs filled scene as Yuri Boyka and Dolor clash in one extended and epic display of physical prowess that has not been matched since. It’s Action Rewind at its finest this week. Enjoy!!!
Back in 2006, Scott Adkins created one of his most iconic characters to this day in Yuri Boyka, the “most complete fighter in the world.” The film was Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing where he starred alongside Michale Jai White who took on the role of George “The Iceman” Chambers which was originated by Wesley Snipes in the first film. Adkins was the antagonist in the film but when time came to do a sequel, the filmmakers knew that his character was so popular with fans that they turned Boyka into one of the greatest anti-heroes in action cinema history as he took the lead and delivered some of the best fight sequences ever.
This week, Adkins revealed in his YouTube video that Undisputed 3: Redemption was one of his most favorite films and fans and critics around the world woud tend to agree with some saying that this is one of the best martial arts films to come out of the west. As a whole, the premise is pretty straight forward as it deals with Boyka on his quest to regain what he lost when he came on the short end of the stick in his fight to Chambers in the second film. The storyline revolves around a high stakes underground prison fight tournament where wardens from different prisons select their best fighters to compete in a no holds barred contest where major money is to be won and certain death awaits for the loser.
Of course, Boyka runs into Dolor, who is the current champion of the tournament and the two are headed towrads a collision course of fists and feet which culminates into one of the most epic fights in history. Both Adkins and Zaror are experts in the field of extreme martial arts where high flying moves are normal for the day and the two can execute the most death defying of moves and to watch them go toe to toe is a real treat for fans all over the world.
I have to say that Adkins’ fight with Zaror is one of the best, if not the best, fights from one of his movies and it really showcases his talents as well as Zaror. Both men get ample opportunity to highlight themselves and the fight goes back and forth relentlessly until the end.
The fight is also rare as it lasts over seven minutes in length which is truly exceptional as most fights in western action movies run for way less than that. The only extended fight scenes we really ever got came from Asia but here the two legends lock horns for a marathon of brutal display. The moves where choreographed by action maestro Larnell Stovall who has also coordinated the action for other films such as Kickboxer: Vengeance, Never Back Down: No Surrender as well as the TV series Titans and Altered Carbon. Stovall really utelizes both men and makes sure that fans get plenty to cheer about during the climatc brawl.
Now it goes without saying that this is one of the collaborations between Adkins and director Isaac Florentine who has a real impressive filmography under his belt. Florentine is one of those special directors that truly knows how to film action and especially martial arts sequences. You can’t mention action without including this man.
There’s a reason why these two men are so popular in action cinema. They deliver the goods every single time in their own films and here they really give it their all and leave a ton of blood, sweat and tears in the ring. This segment at Action-Flix was created to highlight the best fights ever in action and here we have two of the best of the best dishing out top tier excitement that is hard to be matched. This is why Foot Fist Fridays was created and I think you will agree with me.
Now in the immortal words of Arnold Schwarzenegger in Conan the Destroyer, “Enough Talk!” It’s time to center the ring and watch a master class in how to execute a true fight scene classic and your professors are Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror! Enjoy!!!!
Right on the Money!!