Film - 2/5 - Born a Champion - 2021

 

Born a Champion is a 2021 American martial arts drama directed by Alex Ranarivelo and written by Sean Patrick Flanery and Ranarivelo. It stars Flanery, Dennis Quaid and Katrina Bowden. The film also features mixed martial arts fighter Edson Barboza, with appearances by Renzo Gracie and Mickey Gall.

Mickey Kelley, one of the first American black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, gets pulled away from everything he loves and into an unsanctioned MMA tournament. Forrest Films announced their intent to film Born a Champion, then titled Mickey Kelley, in July 2019. Alex Ranarivelo was named as the director and actors Sean Patrick Flanery, Katrina Bowden, and Dennis Quaid were also announced as some of the film's central characters. Flanery also served as one of the film's producers and co-wrote the script alongside Ranarivelo. Flanery called the film a "love letter to BJJ" in the film's credits, as a result of "what it’s done for me; how it’s changed me; what it’s done for my perspective on life, love and happiness and family."

Filming took place in Petaluma, California during the summer of 2019 and wrapped in August of the same year.