Film Lens
Tough Guys is a 2017 documentary that covers the rise of mixed martial arts in the United States from 1979 to 1983. It focuses on Bill Viola and Frank Caliguri, founders of CV Productions, who created a new sport that combined various fighting styles, recruiting street fighters, wrestlers, and martial artists. The film chronicles the early bouts of this anything-goes fight league and the fighters who participated, providing a historical context for the development of MMA.
The documentary also addresses the political scrutiny faced by CV Productions, which led to the passage of the Tough Guy Law, Senate Bill 632, marking the first mixed martial arts ban in the country. This law effectively halted the sport until the UFC revived the concept in 1993. The film is based on the book Godfathers of MMA and features interviews and archival footage that provide insight into the origins of MMA and the controversies surrounding it.
Why Watch
- •Meet Bill Viola and Frank Caliguri, MMA pioneers.
- •Find out about the Tough Guy vs Toughman controversy.
- •See the origins of MMA before the UFC.
Did You Know
•CV Productions created a new sport in 1979, over a decade before the UFC.
•The Tough Guy Law, the first MMA ban, was passed due to political scrutiny.
•Filming took place at 18 locations, including Denny's restaurant and Allegheny Shotokan Karate.
•The film premiered at the AFI Film Festival in 2017 before airing on Showtime.
Perfect For
Mixed martial arts fansSports history enthusiastsDocumentary lovers