(gentle music)
(glass shattering)
(ethereal music)
(no audio)
(thrilling music) (static crackling)
(weighty object thudding)
(no audio)
(crowd clamoring faintly)
(blows thudding faintly)
(crowd continues clamoring faintly)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(blows thudding faintly)
(gentle music continues)
(blows thudding faintly)
(gentle music continues)
(siren wailing distantly)
- The Athletic Commission has taken this way too far.
- They're trying to make an example
out of Cassady and Alexa.
- Okay, well I'll get legal on it right away.
- I'll get on that. - Great.
- Donna!
- Frank. What are you doing here?
I have told you before,
you can't just show up here unannounced.
I run this company, not you.
- Peace, relax, Red? I come in peace.
But I needed to talk to you,
but you're not returning my calls.
- Of course not. You have two minutes.
- Okay. That circus here last night went viral.
Now the Athletic Commission is rolling out fines
like toilet paper.
- Okay. I got legal on it.
I am on top of it. - Okay, I invested
in this company because I thought I could do big business,
but at the end of the day,
these girls can't draw big business money.
- I have told you this before.
You have to take a long-term vision.
- I gotta get my investment out now.
And since you're getting in the way,
the only option I got is for you
to do better business now.
- John. - Frank,
I don't have time for this today.
- I just, I want you to introduce you
to my associate, John David.
- Hi, Donna.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
I'm a big fan of yours
and the work you've done in women's only MMA fighting world-
- And John's done big business in Asia promoting MMA fights.
(Donna laughs)
- What Frank's calling a circus show,
I'm calling an opportunity.
But firstly, you guys have to strip Alexa Star
of the championship belt.
It's the only way the athletic committee's gonna back off.
Secondly, we need a new champion.
The only way to do that is through another tournament.
- Tournaments are 50/50 at best.
- True, but everyone's going nuts about Excelsis FC
and the mayhem that went down last night.
Alexa Star is money right now and we have to capitalize.
But we're gonna need a TV and streaming deal.
Lucky for us, I've got just the guy
down at the sports network who may be interested.
We're gonna have to package this the right way,
but we could be looking at, minimum, 5 million bucks.
- That kind of business, you just buy me out.
- Well, we will need to sign some new talent to the roster
and make the tournament a bit more sexy.
- A TV series goes stale, the writers add a new character.
- Just like that?
- Yeah. Exactly just like that.
And in addition, I can get Dalia Santos
and Abby Lang to the table to cut a deal
and they're just as hot as Alexa Star right now.
Come on, let's be honest.
The entire sports world just wants
to see Cassady Jones versus Alexa Star part two.
- Okay, there's not even
a guarantee if we threw a tournament
that we would get that particular fight.
- Well, that's my job to make sure,
regardless of the main event, this tournament is a success.
- Okay.
I've been around this business a long time
and there's people who talk a good game,
but when it comes time to walk in the walk,
they really don't do it.
Do you know what I call those people?
I call them flakes.
- Ah, come on, Donna. - No, listen to me.
I have a bunch of shareholders to answer to besides you.
I have a locker room full of women that are depending on me
and I have a business to run.
What I don't have time for right now are flakes.
- Damn it, woman, just let him finish.
- I just let him finish. - Donna, how about this?
Just give me one week to back up my talk with some action.
- Good day, gentlemen.
- Oh shit, she's a tough one. - Yeah.
(sirens wailing distantly)
(sheets rustle softly)
(dark foreboding music)
(pills rattle)
- [Scarlett] You should have never lost that fight.
(heartbeat thudding softly)
- I wasn't gonna come here today.
- [Dr. Goldberg] What changed your mind?
- I keep seeing her everywhere.
Everywhere I go.
I just want it to stop.
- When you see people like that,
usually it's not reflective of the actual person.
It's about you.
You're seeing yourself through the other person.
The question to ask yourself is:
what are they showing you about you?
(Cassady sighs and sobs softly)
- I just can't stop thinking that it was all my fault.
- That's common with PTSD.
- Just tell me how I can make this stop.
- By answering the question.
What is this person showing me about myself?
(phone chimes)
- Sorry, I forgot to turn my phone on silent.
Shit.
You know what? I'm gonna have to reschedule.
I'm sorry.
(Dr. Goldberg sighs)
(bell tolling)
- I hope you told the Athletic Commission to get fucked.
- Consider this a courtesy call.
I wanted to let you know before the news hit the wire.
Look, I told you there would be consequences
and now I have to strip you of your championship title.
- Are you out of your fucking mind?
This company was scraping pennies off the ground
before I got here.
How about a fucking thank you.
- Don't gimme that bullshit.
You almost lost your career over this.
How about you be thankful for once?
(brooding music) - Fuck!
- Alexa, what are you doing here today?
- I want an update on my endorsement deal.
- Okay. Well have a seat.
- I have a fucking seat. What I need is an update.
- Well, deal's off the table. - Why?
- Because of your behavior.
The brawl, it was unsportsmanlike.
It didn't represent their brand.
- Okay, well tell the brand
that they're a bunch of donkeys
and that publicity equals money.
- Word is you are being stripped of your title any day now.
- My job is to be the undisputed champion.
I'm fighting for that every fucking day.
Your job is to put money on the god damn table.
Pick up that god damn phone and fix this shit.
- Okay, Alexa.
I know right now
that everybody's talking about you in the sports world
and that carries a lot of clout.
- You do it or I will.
(door clatters)
(phone ringing distantly)
- Can I help you?
- Yes. I'm here to see Donna Carter.
- Do you have an appointment?
- No, not today.
Just let her know John David is here to see her.
- One moment. - Thank you.
- Yeah, there's a John David to see you. No.
- Down the hall to the right.
- Awesome. Thank you so much.
Hey, what's your name?
- Down the hall to the right. - (chuckles) Thanks.
- I hope you're not here to waste my time.
- Of course not.
Let's see what we have for you today.
Here's the signed letter of intent
for Dalia Santos and Abby Lang
and my guy at the sports network
is interested in giving us a TV and streaming deal,
but we have to act today.
- What do you want?
- Just 30% of net revenues.
- (laughs) 9%.
- 9%?
Donna, you of all people
know the amount of work involved here.
- Yeah, I do.
What do you think this company just sprouted by itself?
- No, I'm not saying that at all.
And I'm not implying you don't know what-
- Look, it's 9%.
That's 9% of $5 million plus a few conditions.
- What conditions?
- First, you work for me and you answer to me, not Frank.
Secondly, you are hired as an independent contractor
to promote this tournament alone.
Thirdly, all the women on the roster,
they go through me, they get handled by me.
And if anybody has any issues, you come to me.
That's the deal.
- (sighs) Fine, 9%.
Plus a 10-point increase on any tournament
I promote for you after this.
- (laughs) We'll see if there's future tournaments
when there's future tournaments.
Right now the deal is 9%.
- How should we firm up the agreement?
- [Donna] Well, I'll contact my legal team
and they'll send you a contract by end of day.
- Good. I'll look forward to your email then.
- Good. And one more thing.
Abby and Dalia, they get tested for PEDs.
They don't sign with me until that happens. You got it?
- You've got it, boss.
- Okay, get outta my office.
(briefcase zips)
(fists thudding)
- (grunts) Hey, sis.
- You're not supposed to be here.
- Oh, you forget?
Used to train here every day this exact time.
- No, you don't.
You don't train here anymore.
- Not for a while now.
How long's it been?
- 1 year, 12 months, 3 days.
- Oh, I'm surprised you didn't gimme the hours
or the minutes.
- Why the fuck are you here?
- Oh, what?
I can't check up on my shadow anymore.
- I'm not your fucking shadow.
Now get the fuck out of here
'cause I have to train.
- Oh, you don't really think
you can win this tournament now do you?
- Oh, here we go.
You're jealous of me, aren't you?
You've always been fucking jealous of me.
(dark music) - Bullshit, Barbie!
- Don't call me fucking Barbie.
- What happened to that fighting spirit of yours? Huh?!
The one that I built?
That fucking champion that I fucking made?
The moment I leave, it all goes to shit.
You should have never lost that fight to Alexa.
God damn it! You're such a fucking disappointment!
Sis, I ain't going anywhere.
(Cassady sobs softly)
(boat horn blaring distantly)
- Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,
members of the press.
Excelsis FC needs a new women's champion.
I'm here to announce a tournament to do just that.
Get ready for the most must-see sports event of our time.
Eight women, one tournament to crown one champion.
The purse for the tournament is set at $1.2 million.
Any questions?
- Cassady Jones and Alexa Star
should be ineligible for this tournament
after what happened.
(chair creaks) - We are reviewing
those results and-
- I put the work in.
I held the championship for the last year.
I've been carrying women's MMA
and this entire promotion on my back.
I'm here to take back my place as champ again.
- Hey, Barbie.
I'm the undisputed champ.
While Barbie and her sister were fighting in the backyard,
I was kicking ass not only in London and Tokyo,
but all over the world.
I put this promotion on the map.
I have scratched and clawed
to get to the top of the mountain
and every time I get there, some fucking bimbo
tries to pull the rug out from under me.
- You're weak, Alexa Star. - Aw, cry baby.
- You're weak. - Aw.
- You're so fuck- - Okay, ladies.
Let's save some of that love for the octagon.
When this sports event is over,
it's going to be the greatest fighting event ever.
(determined music)
Hey, what the hell are you doing?
- My name's Terry Stafford.
I'm with the Federal Anti-Doping Agency.
- I know who you are. - We're just here
to do our randomized drug tests.
- I get that. But do you have to do that right now?
- The whole point of a surprise test
is no one knows when it's gonna happen.
- I'd still really appreciate a courtesy call next time.
Do you have a business card?
Thanks, Terry.
(motivated upbeat music)
♪ Uh, ice in my veins, I'm so icy ♪
♪ Check the tag, I'm so pricey ♪
♪ I don't care they don't like me ♪
♪ I know you mad 'cause I do it nicely ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Mad 'cause I do it nicely ♪
♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ I know you mad ♪
♪ Hey, uh ♪
♪ Ice in my veins, I'm so icy ♪
♪ Check the tag, I'm so pricey ♪
♪ I don't care they don't like me ♪
♪ I know you mad 'cause I do it nicely ♪
♪ I know you mad ♪ (medicine ball thudding)
♪ Okay, I break it down like work ♪
♪ Doublin' up to till it's getting absurd ♪
♪ Eyes'll be wet, I sit back and observe ♪
♪ Man, I'm not willing to fuck with you nerds ♪
♪ Spliff in the pack, I don't fuck with the herb ♪
♪ Fuck all my pettiness, fuck all my nerves ♪
♪ Back to my ways, I need hurt, I need hurt ♪
♪ Hurt and hurt and hurt ♪ ♪ Hey, baby ♪
♪ Oh, I'm Nike young, got me a check, I'ma do it ♪
♪ Look with me like you be sharing my music ♪
♪ My girl an Ashanti but acting all foolish ♪
♪ Demanded the fact that really could do this ♪
(kick thuds)
(upbeat music)
- We are live at EFC 37 for the start
of the EFC championship tournament as we start the road
to crowning a brand new EFC champion.
(title card whooshes)
- Dalia Santos, the pride of Brazil,
means business in this tournament.
- [Announcer] Fighting out of the red corner,
the former WBA Boxing world champion,
Samantha Baxter!
Fighting out of the blue corner,
the former IBJJF world champion,
Dalia Santos!
(serious music)
- Let's fight!
(blows thudding) (crowd clamoring)
(crowd continues clamoring)
(punch thuds)
(crowd groans and cheers)
- [Announcer] Winner by TKO, Dalia Santos!
- Alexa Star is the most interesting MMA athlete
to watch these days,
but tonight she's got a monster in Breanna to fight.
(title card whooshes)
- Fighting out of the red corner,
A kickboxing specialist, former EFC champion,
Alexa Star! (crowd cheering)
And fighting out of the blue corner,
mixed martial artist, Breanna Connor!
(crowd cheers)
- Fighter, you ready? Fighter, you ready?
Let's fight!
(blows thudding)
(kick thuds) (Breanna groans)
(crowd cheers)
- [Announcer] And your winner by TKO,
Alexa Star!
(serious music continues)
Fighting out of the blue corner,
a Muay Thai specialist, Jessica Lee!
And fighting out of the red corner,
a striker, Abby Lang! (crowd cheers)
(serious music continues)
(both grunting)
(blows thudding)
(fence rattles)
(crowd gasps)
(both grunting)
(blows thudding)
(horn blasts)
(blows thudding)
(crowd gasps)
(crowd clamoring)
(fence rattles) (crowd groans)
(blows thudding)
The winner, winner by TKO,
Abby Lang!
- [Commentator] We have seen
some amazing matchups tonight, but...
- Watching Cassady Jones fight
is like a pop cultural spectacle.
- I mean, after a defeat like this,
it's easy to lose your self-confidence, your self-esteem
as an athlete. - Right, yeah.
- But she was able to bounce back and she's here tonight.
- This elimination fight
is set for three rounds.
And now, introducing first,
fighting out of the blue corner, a freestyle fighter
with a professional record of 13 wins and 1 loss,
the Assassin, Faith Phillips.
Fighting out of the red corner,
a judo specialist with a professional record
of 11 wins and 2 losses,
fighting from Toronto, Canada.
The former EFC champion of the world,
Cassady Jones! - Red corner?
Blue corner?
Okay, ladies, I want a good clean fight.
Listen to my commands at all times.
Defend yourselves at all times.
Touch gloves, go back to your corner.
Fighter, are you ready? Fighter, are you ready?
Let's fight.
(serious music)
(blows thudding)
(crowd groans)
(blows thudding)
(horn blasts)
- Come on, girl.
That's it. Right here, right here, right here.
Good. - Seconds out.
- Fighter, are you ready? Fighter, ready?
Let's fight.
(crowd groans)
(blows thudding)
(crowd clamoring)
(knee thuds) (crowd groans)
(audio warbles) (Cassady exhales softly)
(ethereal music)
(ethereal music continues)
(crowd clamoring)
(blows thudding)
- Fighter, stay back.
Medic. (crowd booing)
Cassady, are you okay?
Come on, let's go.
(Cassady sputters and coughs)
(fastener zips)
(dark music) (Scarlett sighs)
- You're in a downward spiral, Barbie.
- For the last time, stop calling me Barbie.
- You need help.
- You enjoy seeing me like this, don't you?
- You are a fake.
You do not belong in the octagon
and tonight everybody found out what a fraud you are.
- Get the fuck outta my life.
(both shouting)
- You bitch! I'm gonna fucking kill you!
(both grunting)
Come on. I taught you this.
You remember how to get out of this?
- Fuck you! (Scarlett laughing)
(Cassady grunts) - No.
Clearly you don't.
(Scarlett laughing) (disturbing music)
(Cassady shouts and grunts)
- Fuck. (Cassady panting)
- Cassady?
Are you okay?
Cassady? - I'm fine.
- [Scarlett] You're not a fighter. You're a fraud.
(traffic droning faintly)
- Oh my God. - (gasps) Hi.
- Um, Cassady Jones.
- Yeah.
- I am a huge fan. - Huge fan.
- Like number one.
Can we take a picture?
- No. - Oh. Rejected.
- Get the fuck outta here.
- Whoa.
- Cassady. (door thuds)
- Hey.
What's going on with you? Are you okay?
- Yeah. I just have this headache that won't go away.
I wanna tell you a story.
(brooding music)
There's this particular bird of prey
and it's beak gets so old
that it can't pick up food anymore.
At the exact same time, it has difficulty flying
because its feathers get so thick.
That's when it has a choice: to either die or be reborn.
- She's calling you old
and she's saying it's time to retire.
Go home and grow old with two cats. (meows)
- Hey, I'm trying to explain something to you.
- I'm listening!
- Okay.
So if it chooses to be reborn,
it has to literally bang its beak on a rock
until it falls out
and then it has to wait for the other one to grow back.
And then it has to pluck out
all its feathers with its new beak
and wait for its feathers to grow back.
After 150 dark nights, it finally goes on
and flies off into its flight of rebirth
and then it lives for another 30 or 40 years.
Hello?
- I get it. Thanks.
- [Donna] I know what you're going through.
- How could you possibly understand what I'm going through?
- I saw my father go through the exact same thing.
- Yeah, not kind of the same as experiencing it, Donna.
- Listen, he was a champion.
He went to this really dark place.
He didn't even know why he was fighting anymore.
He didn't really have the drive like he used to.
- She just compared you to a really old man.
- So what are you trying to say?
I want my championship back. - No-
- Don't you know that? - Listen-
- And don't forget
that my sister and I built this god damn company for you.
- Okay, I'm gonna forget that you said that
because I care about you.
But it's time for you to get real.
After the tournament,
there is gonna be three other challengers ahead of you.
I don't think I can get you another championship fight
for one, maybe two years.
- One to two years? - One to two years.
- Are you fucking kidding me? - No.
- I didn't even get a proper rematch.
- That's because you forfeited the rematch
when you fought with Alexa.
- Here's an idea, why don't I jump off a fucking bridge?
Sounds like a great idea right now.
- Just relax.
Or you could just come in
and what you could do
is you could see what it's like behind the scenes.
Sometimes a change in focus can fix your perspective.
- What the fuck are you talking about?
You want me to come in here and put on a suit like you?
That's the stupidest thing that I've ever fucking heard.
You know what? Fuck you.
- Wow.
- Wants me to wear a fucking suit?
(imitates flapping) Fuck you.
- The fuck you looking at? Yeah, that's what I thought.
- Some sort of mistake. I don't know.
I'm sorry. Let's start this conversation again.
- [Agent Rodriquez] This is Nancy Rodriguez
from the Federal Anti-Doping Agency.
- Yes, I got that part down.
It's the other stuff you're saying
that's making me think
there's something wrong with my hearing.
- [Agent Rodriquez] Dalia Santos and Abby Lang
have been flagged for doping violations.
- What? There's gotta be some sort of mistake.
We gotta fix the situation.
- [Agent Rodriquez] The test results have been verified
and forwarded to the Athletic Commission.
A suspension notice will be issued shortly.
- No, I mean, Nancy, let's not do anything hasty, okay?
Can you please send me the copy of the report
and have Terry Stafford call me ASAP?
(keyboard clattering)
- [Agent Rodriquez] I've just emailed you a copy.
- No, u- uh...
Okay. Nancy, thank you so much for the courtesy call.
I really appreciate it.
Thank you.
(phone beeps)
(brooding club music)
♪ There is no loving after the sun goes down tonight ♪
♪ Am I psycho ♪
♪ I'ma drink it all till I feel nothing ♪
♪ Just a sip is not enough ♪
♪ I'm breaking chains off, turn up everyone ♪
♪ It's time to wake up the monster that I've become ♪
♪ The monster that I've become ♪
- Get rid of this broad.
- Just come back later, okay?
(patrons laughing and cheering faintly)
- I got bad news for you, Frank.
- What?
- Dalia Santos and Abby Lang got pinched for doping.
- Fuck!
Why don't you just pound me in ass the with no lube?
That'd be better.
If Dalia-Abby's out,
then the semis become the finals
and Alexa-Faith is, fucking sucks for business.
- I got an idea. - I don't need ideas.
I got financial obligations I gotta meet.
You understand what I'm saying?
- I got a guy at FADA who might be okay
with releasing the docs after the tournament.
- Oh, FADA. Fuck.
Is this guy reliable?
- Fuck. You know how it goes.
If it's financially viable.
- Yeah, well I got you in his business
so I can get my investment out.
Now you're telling me I gotta put more money in
and, and just keep my fingers crossed
this guy's gonna keep his mouth shut
till after the fucking tournament?
- Yeah, that pretty much
sums it up, Frank. - Ah, fuck me.
- There's one more thing.
Donna's under the impression
that we tested all the new girls for PEDs
but I was so fucking busy signing them
I didn't have the time to do that.
- Yeah, well we gotta keep Donna out of this.
She's gonna bite our cocks off.
And you tell that FADA fuck he can get whatever he wants.
20, 50, 100k, I don't give a shit.
But you tell him gets his money after the tournament
considering he keeps his mouth shut.
You understand what I'm saying? (sniffs)
- All right, I'll see what I can do.
- Just get it fucking done!
♪ Wake up the monster that I've become ♪
♪ The monster that I've become ♪
(subdued music)
(subdued music continues)
- Oh, sorry. I was just looking for Donna.
- Donna isn't a hundred percent.
Everybody here could be out of a job in the next 60 days.
- I don't understand.
- Hope you got your popcorn ready.
- It's real simple. There's a shareholder meeting coming up.
One of the major shareholders, Frank Caruso,
has tried to sell his company shares.
- Yeah. What's the big deal?
- He tried to sell his stock in the company
to an entertainment group at liquidation-type prices.
Donna exercised her veto clause to block the sale.
She was worried that it would devalue
the company's share price,
cause the other investors to panic
and create too much instability within the company.
This tournament was like a ceasefire
between Donna and Frank.
If we pulled in enough money, we were gonna buy Frank out.
- Great. That should solve all of the problems then.
- Yeah. In a perfect world it would.
- But?
- We're not doing the numbers we estimated we'd do.
And now that you're out of the tournament,
we don't know what's gonna happen.
Alexa, Faith, Dalia, and Abby are still big draws,
but everybody was banking
on a rematch between you and Alexa.
- Yeah. Yeah, okay.
I get it.
- At this rate, we are gonna be in a deficit
by the time the shareholder meeting comes around.
Frank will likely call
for a no-confidence vote in management
and vote Donna out.
If Frank gets his way, this company could be sold
for pennies on the dollar
and the new group isn't interested in growing the company.
- They only want our digital media archives of fights.
- Once they get that, they'll dissolve the company.
- Great.
(subdued music)
Is there anything I can do to help?
- Yeah, you can help the women
that are behind you coming up through
the same way that I did for you and your sister.
You can be a voice for them when they don't have one.
- I kind of just meant
is there anything I can do to help right now?
But that's great advice, so-
- You know, I never fought in the octagon,
but I fight for all of you every day.
Every single day I fight so that you'll be paid.
I fight so that you have an audience.
I fight so that you have a stage.
So all the hard work that you do doesn't go in vain.
- Yeah, I never stopped to think about
how much you actually do for us.
Thank you.
- You're welcome.
You know, critics, they think that women's MMA
can't draw the same money
and the same attention as men's,
but the tide, it's changing.
Did you see the quality of the fights
and the competitors that we have?
- Yeah, you're right.
- Okay, look, you just have to knock off
some of the to-dos on the list.
- Okay.
- [Commentator] Tonight, EFC 38 presents the semi-finals
in the EFC championship tournament.
- [Commentator] Exciting.
- I mean, the four women fighting tonight,
they're coming with a lot of momentum behind them.
They all had some pretty impressive victories
in round one of this tournament.
(crowd cheering)
- [Announcer] Fighting in the blue corner,
Brazilian jujitsu specialist,
fighting from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
Dalia Santos.
And fighting out of the red corner,
a freestyle fighter,
the Assassin, Faith Phillips.
- Fighter, are you ready? Fighter, are you ready?
Let's fight!
(blows thudding)
(crowd cheers)
(fence rattles)
(blows continue thudding)
(audio warbles)
(horn blares)
Round three.
Fighter ready?
Fighter are you ready?
Let's fight.
(blows thudding) (crowd groaning)
(crowd cheers) (horn blares)
- And Dalia wins with a TKO.
A solid performance tonight.
(title card whooshes)
- Fighting out of the red corner,
a striking specialist,
fighting from Manchester, England, Abby Lang!
And fighting out of the blue corner,
a kickboxing specialist, the former EFC champion,
fighting from San Diego, California, Alexa Star!
- Fighter, ready? Fighter, ready?
Let's fight.
(serious music)
(blows thudding)
(both grunting)
(crowd cheers)
(both grunting)
(crowd cheers)
Fighter, ready? Fighter, ready?
Let's fight.
(blows thudding)
(fighters grunting)
(crowd groans)
(crowd cheers)
(serious music continues)
(no audio)
- Donna!
Donna? Donna?
(tender music)
(tender music continues)
- It all happened so suddenly.
Donna dedicated her life to building this company.
She wasn't just one of the best women I've known-
(phone chimes)
- Shit.
Yeah, I'll call you right back.
- She was one of the best human beings I've ever known.
It was an honor to work with her
so closely for so long.
(gentle serious music)
- Miss you, boss lady.
- I just can't believe she's gone.
- I moved to the city 15 years ago.
I remember being a lost soul.
Donna took me under her wing.
- Sounds like her.
- Have you heard the news?
- I haven't heard anything from anybody.
- Since John David's been appointed interim president
he's laid off 25% of our staff.
- You gotta be fucking kidding me.
- Donna's stock in the company is going to be auctioned off
by her estate after the tournament's over.
Frank Russo, he's the next major shareholder
in line after Donna.
He's pushing to sell the company assets.
Dissolve it.
- What is her stock worth anyway?
- 3.6 million.
I have to go.
- Okay.
- Keep in touch. - I will.
- Yes.
Yep. Mm-hmm.
Yes. And can you pull up my contract?
Yeah, I need to amend it. It should say 50% of net revenues.
No, no, no. five-zero, not one-five.
Not 15, five-zero.
Yes. Beauty.
Yeah. And I need that done pronto.
Perfect. Thank you.
Okay. Bye bye.
(tender music) (traffic droning)
(tender music continues)
- [Scarlett] You're such a fucking disappointment.
From now on, just call yourself Cassady
and leave the Jones part out of it.
(crowd clamoring mutedly)
You don't deserve to be in the octagon.
You're not a fighter. You're a fraud.
I want you to do something right for once.
- You're one fight away
from possibly regaining the championship.
- I'm already the champion
and once I make Dalia my bitch,
I'll be the undisputed champion.
- You're a 42 to 1 underdog.
She's bigger, she has better reach, she-
- Guys, let me explain something to you.
Dalia may be tough physically,
but her brain is weak as piss.
So while she's off getting her hair and her nails done,
I'm learning chess, learning strategy,
something I've done since I was a very little girl
so it's in my blood.
And that's the difference between a fighter and a winner.
If you look at the greats, they're not always the strongest,
but they're always the smartest.
So that, my fans, my friends,
is why I will be going home with the check for the finals.
Thank you.
(motivational music)
(motivational music continues)
(motivational music fades)
(footsteps tapping)
- [Cassady] Hey.
- Your message concerned me.
- Yeah, well, can't get any worse than it is now.
I think I might be onto something.
I think we might be able
to buy Donna's shares in the company.
- Okay. - I need your help.
- Well, I certainly don't
have millions of dollars to invest with-
- Just let me finish. I'm not asking you for money.
I think that if I can get the winner
of the finals to come on board,
then we have half of the money.
I need you to talk to Alexa and Dalia.
- (chuckles) Dalia is one of John David's girls.
I don't have an in with her.
- Okay. So that leaves us with Alexa.
- Us?
- I know that you loved Donna just as much as I did.
This is her legacy that we're talking about.
- Donna and I worked our asses off to get to this point.
To see it come to an end like this is heartbreaking.
- And that's exactly why I need you to go talk to Alexa.
- (chuckles) Alexa is an opinionated hotheaded girl
who only cares about herself.
After Donna passed away, she came to me
and demanded that I renegotiate her contract.
I told her that John David takes care of that.
She got mad and well, we both know what happens after that.
Quite frankly, I don't have time for her bullshit.
- Yeah, well, nobody has time for her bullshit.
But we both know
that Alexa's all about what's in it for her.
So maybe she'll come to our side
if she realizes that she doesn't have to be associated
with John David anymore.
- I'll see what I can do.
(door clatters)
(energetic music)
(energetic music continues)
(blows thudding)
(energetic music continues)
(subdued music)
- If you wanna beat Dalia,
you have to get her on the ground and keep her there.
- I don't fucking need your help, Barbie. Fuck off.
- I don't see anybody else here trying to help you.
But we can help each other.
- Are you still trying to do that martyr thing?
You know, the world doesn't need another failed hero, right?
- If you beat Dalia, we could be partners.
You know, you can pull in $1.2 million in your next fight?
- Yeah, and I'm going to be collecting that check.
- What other fight promotion have you fought in
where you've been able to make that type of purse?
- What is your point?
- My point is we can make this happen.
- (groans) Where I come from,
we call people like you big-time dreamers,
small-time screamers.
Where you gonna get that kind of money?
Oh, you want me to invest my money back into the Titanic?
- No, I want you to take your money
and invest it into the future of women's MMA.
- Are you crazy?
You're gonna risk everything you have for this?
- The future of women's MMA
no longer rests in one woman's hands.
- Oof.
(traffic whooshing rapidly)
- I spoke to Alexa.
She doesn't wanna invest any money
before or after the finals.
However, it seems that she's had a rude awakening of sorts.
- Where does that leave us?
- She might be willing to make a strategic introduction
to somebody who may be able to help us,
but you're gonna have to be the one convinced her to do it.
- Fuck me. (Nikki laughs)
- Hey, this was your idea. - Yeah.
- It's a good idea.
Okay. You need to handle this with kid gloves.
Stay focused.
Let me know what happens.
- Will do.
(door thuds)
(serious music)
- It's a really nice home you have here.
- So you two are frenemies now?
- Um, not exactly.
- This fight business you two got yourself into,
it's a, it's a hard way to make a living.
- So Alexa mentioned that you may be able
to help me out with something I'm working on.
I need to raise some money.
- I've been an investment banker for 30 years
and if I had to do it again, I'd rather shovel elephant shit
and not talk to another human being.
How much money are you raising?
- $3.6 million.
But I already have a third of it from my life savings.
Alexa also mentioned
that she may chip in some money when she beats Dalia.
- (laughs) Don't talk to me
about things that haven't happened yet.
(mug thuds)
Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
What's the capital structure of this company?
What's the valuation of this company?
What are you offering your investors as a return?
It's obvious you have no idea
what you're getting yourself into
so why don't you do yourself a favor,
park your money in the bank and get yourself a real job.
- Okay. You're right.
I don't have the financial experience that you have,
but what I do have is a vision.
I mean, just look at the quality of fighters
that we've already had.
Now, I've done my homework.
The men's promotion, XFC, just sold for $4 billion.
I'm only asking for your help
to help take our promotion to that level.
And if you think I'm some kind
of a West Coast blonde bimbo, you're wrong.
While I was coming up the professional ranks
to become the EFC champion,
I also graduated from university.
I got my degree in business administration.
Now, I haven't dealt with a lot of investors,
but I've dealt with a lot of business people
and you seem like a very wise businessman.
One that would be able to recognize a great opportunity
when it's right in front of him.
- (chuckles) Well, you certainly have a lot to say.
Remind you of anyone?
- Gimme the financial statements of this company
for the last two years and I'll have a look.
If you're lucky, you might hear back from me.
- Okay, thank you.
(dark music)
I'll have what she's having.
Thanks.
Cheers.
So I have an investment banker
that could potentially help me raise the money
to buy the company,
but I'm going to need your help.
- Well.
- I'm going to need the past two years
of the company's financial statements.
Can you get those for me?
- Donna and I put together a five-year business plan.
It required a huge capital investment.
- Why did you guys never move forward with the plan?
- The investment required a dilution
of the common stock of the company.
Most of the shareholders were willing
to have their equity positions diluted
if it meant the company would grow.
- So a small slice of a big pie
is better than a big slice of a small pie.
- Exactly. And most of the shareholders saw it that way.
Except for Frank. He went nuts.
He thought that Donna was trying to screw him over
so he convinced the shareholders to vote against it.
- Why does Frank always seem
to be the stumbling block in every scenario?
- It's an ambitious plan.
You can use it to present to your investor,
but you're still gonna need the approval
of the majority of shareholders to make it work.
It might be different for you.
The company is in a state of chaos
and you're Cassady Jones
and you're a recognizable figure
that the shareholders could really rally behind.
- Well, thank you for your vote of confidence.
How hard do you think it'll be for me
to buy the shares of the company from Donna's estate?
- I just met with the lawyer handling
the sale of Donna's estate.
Donna didn't have any heirs.
Get the sale to happen fast.
- Thank you. - No, thank you.
You picked up Donna's mantle and ran with it.
- (sighs) I really don't know if I can make this work.
- Donna believed in you.
She thought that you had the potential
to do great things outside of the octagon.
I believe that too.
(engine revs)
- [Broadcaster] Welcome back to "The MMA Hour" podcast.
EFC semifinal ratings, buy rates, ticket sales,
and overall viewership fails to deliver
without Cassady Jones on the fight card.
With over a 50% decline in viewership and sales
combined with the death of Donna Carter,
John David and the EFC promotion
are in big trouble right now.
(tires screech)
- (grunts) Damn it! Fuck!
God fucking damn it!
Fucking shit!
(door clatters)
(door thuds)
(engine revs raucously)
(tires screech)
(tires continue screeching)
- Cassady Jones.
- John David.
- Thank you for meeting me.
- So what's up?
- Well, I've been giving it a lot of thought
and I think you and I should join forces.
- And why would we do that?
- Well, because I can make you a star.
- I already am a star.
- Is money a good incentive for you?
Listen, you come back,
do some press tours,
you show up at that main event and I'll take care of you.
- You'll take care of me? - Absolutely.
- You know that's really interesting that you say that
because I happened to overhear you
the other day on the phone
and I think the only person
that you're going to take care of is yourself.
I would never get in bed with you,
literally and figuratively.
(John chuckles softly)
(seagulls squawking)
- Yo, JD.
- Frank, where the hell have you been?
- Why? - Our FADA guy wants
to get paid tonight.
- Yeah, well you can tell that FADA fuck
if he wants to get paid, he can smoke my sausage.
- He said if we don't pay him,
there's gonna be consequences, Frank.
- What the fuck are you talking about?
If he rats on us, he's ratting himself out.
Look, I've been around
these cum guzzlers my whole life, okay?
His bark's worse than his bite.
And all I need you to do,
sign off on this corporate resolution
so I can liquidate and get the fuck outta this money pit.
- Better be right, Frank. (serious music)
- [Announcer] This is the main event
that the entire sports world has been waiting for.
This fight is five rounds
for the undisputed EFC championship of the world!
(serious music continues)
And now, fighting out of the red corner,
a kickboxing specialist
with a professional record of 12 wins and 0 losses,
fighting from San Diego, California,
the former undisputed EFC champion of the world,
Alexa Star! (crowd cheering)
(crowd continues cheering)
- It's not just another fight.
It's a fight for everything.
- Fighter, ready? Fighter, ready?
Let's fight.
(blows thudding)
(crowd cheers and clamors)
(blows continue thudding)
(serious music)
(serious music continues)
(horn blares)
(crowd cheers)
Fighter, ready? Fighter, ready?
Let's fight!
(blows thudding)
(crowd clamoring)
(blows continue thudding)
(horn blares)
Fighter, are you ready? Fighter, are you ready?
Let's fight!
(blows thudding)
(blows continue thudding)
(fence rattling)
(serious music continues)
(horn blares)
(audio warbles)
Fighter, ready? Fighter, ready.
Let's fight!
(kick thuds)
(fence rattles)
(crowd clamoring)
(Alexa choking and sputtering)
(audio distorts)
(crowd cheering)
(crowd continues cheering)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(crow caws)
(gentle music continues)
- Is there anything I can do to help?
- Yeah, you can help the women
that are behind you coming up through
the same way that I did for you and your sister.
You can be a voice for them when they don't have one.
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music fades)
- [Newsreader] Breaking news this morning
on the heels of an Excelsis FC fight tournament,
fight promoter John David
has been arrested by federal agents
on grounds of obstruction, attempts to impair,
and defeat the lawful function of a government agency, FADA.
Stay tuned as we bring you more details
on the sports scandal of the year.
- He got what he deserved.
(phone chimes)
(no audio)
- Hey, lemme get this. Lemme get this.
- Thanks.
- So listen, bro, this is the situation, okay?
The tournament just didn't do the numbers we expected
and the TV, streaming was a fucking bust.
All right, we're in a situation,
I'm trying to get the shareholders to get in,
get a meeting going, take a vote.
What I need from you, is your promise
that you're gonna vote for me-
- Forget about it! - Listen, listen, listen.
- Are you kidding me? - You give me-
- You're out of your fucking mind.
- Gimme your vote, we liquidate,
we get the fuck outta here.
- Let me think about it.
All right? - Okay.
Just that's all I'm asking. - Okay?
- Okay. Salud. - Salud.
- Okay.
All right.
(traffic droning faintly)
(no audio)
- Frank, you have to help me!
- Your dumb ass is all over the fucking news.
You better not be calling me from prison.
- I'm in a holding cell, you fucker.
- Do me a favor, lose my number.
- Listen to me, Frank.
I held up my part of the bargain, all right?
You did not. You failed.
All right, listen to me very fucking carefully.
If I go down, you're fucking coming down with me.
- Listen, I'm not involved in anything you're caught up in.
You got nothing on me.
(phone clicks) - Frank.
Don't fucking hang up. Frank?
Fuck!
(phone clatters)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(traffic droning faintly)
(siren wailing mutedly)
(gentle music continues)
- [Scarlett] You finally figured it all out.
- I'd like to call for a moment of silence for Donna.
(no audio)
Now, I think it's time to move forward.
We've been operating this company
in a deficit for over five years.
We have a chance now to sell off our assets and walk away.
But if we don't do it now,
we stand to lose our entire investment in this company.
Cassady, this is a shareholder's meeting.
You're not supposed to be here.
- Oh, Frank, I have every right to be here.
I'd like to seek a motion
to discuss the sale of Donna's stock in this company.
I represent a consortium of investors
who is willing to purchase Donna's shares.
- You can't put forth a motion if you're not a shareholder.
- I'll put the motion forward for her.
- Seconded.
- Cassady, please proceed.
- Women's MMA has been a good decade behind men's.
It's time that we give these women
the exposure that they truly deserve.
Donna's vision went way beyond
what anybody ever thought women's MMA could be.
It's time that we all get on board with that movement.
So today, I'd like to offer
the full amount of Donna's stock of $3.6 million.
I'd like to ask the shareholders to sign this resolution,
allowing me to purchase her stock.
- Now, even if you buy Donna's shares,
we're still operating at a deficit.
We can't even keep- - Ah, see.
That's where you're wrong- - the lights on
for another year.
- If the shareholder agree to sign my resolution
along with the appointment of Ms. Nikki Reed
as president and myself as CEO,
then my consortium of investors is also willing
to invest an additional $10 million
into helping to build towards the future of this company.
- Okay, you smell that?
You know what that smells like? That smells like bullshit.
I'm gonna call it for what it is.
It is bullshit. - I think we all-
- Frank! Frank! - Smell the fucking bullshit.
- Now we get the fuck out. - Everybody here knows-
- Let's just put this to a vote.
- that is about a bigger picture.
The one that you never got
because Frank never believed
that women's MMA could ever succeed.
- W- we- what are you?
The ghost of Donna Carter, come here to bite my dick off?
Do not get your clit in a twist, Barbie.
- Oh wow. - I am the wrong guy-
- Frank, everyone. - to fuck with right now.
- The one that brought us John David.
And in case you haven't heard,
the company's in a hot mess because of him.
- Okay, calm down.
- Frank only cares about Frank.
I was the face of this company. I was the champion.
I fought that fight in the octagon
and now I'm here to fight a different fight.
I'm here to fight for the future of Excelsis.
- If you think you can just waltz in here
and fuck me up the ass, you are so wrong.
- You talk to me like that again, you're gonna be sorry.
Man, and I- - Okay, Cassady, Frank,
we need a moment to discuss, please.
A quorum is present.
I would like to pass a motion
to approve the sale of Donna's stocks
to Cassady and her investment consortium.
All in favor?
- This isn't over. - Motion approved.
Congratulations, Cassady.
- Thank you.
- I'd like to pass a second motion
where we review the amendment to the bylaws,
the appointment of the new board of directors,
including Ms. Nikki Reed as the new president
and Cassady, our new CEO.
All in favor?
(bright optimistic music)
- Congratulations. - Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you. - Well done.
(flash bulb pops)
(bright optimistic music continues)
(subtle music)
- Watch too much movement
'cause when you move too much,
you m-, you won't see what she's doing.
She's quick. Right?
So just be, be on it.
Get her, get her with that kick.
(crowd clamoring)
- [Director] Cut!
- That looked great.
For me it looked good. I don't what it looked like...
How was that guys?
Did that work? Did you get the uppercut and all that stuff?
Okay, moving on then. - Double 30 gone.
(subtle music continues)
(serious music)
- One up.
Okay. Go slow, guys.
Go through the move.
Guys, just go through the move
'cause he's right here. - Yep.
- Go through the move, please. - Yeah, go for it.
- Boom. There we go.
There.
(serious music continues)
Sorry. You said stand up - Yeah-
- No, no, it's okay.
Go back to the beginning guys. - We can start
from right here.
- Okay. - Okay.
The pound. - Go from the pound then.
Perfect.
- As soon as you stand up, I'm gonna kick her off.
- Make good body shots here. And the head.
And... - Action.
(crowd cheering) (fighters grunting)
- Oh yeah. - Woo!
- And that's cut.
That's the cut.
Good.
- Are you okay? - Yeah.
- Is that good, Wayne? - Yeah.
- Awesome. Good.
(serious music continues)
He sees it.
So you, don't punch the back of her head
but punch her, punch her- - Punch my glove.
- Punch her glove. - Yeah, okay.
Okay. And the back.
Punch the glove and the back.
And the, and the ribs.
Yeah, exactly. Punch that side as well.
Her stomach for this camera. - From this angle then?
- There, punch this side. Punch the glove here.
Boom! Boom!
Body, body, glove, top. Okay?
You guys ready? - Yeah. Action.
(crowd cheering) (fighter exhaling sharply)
(serious music continues)
- Do we want one more? - Do one more.
- Just the knee. Just the knee.
- [Fighter] Really have to pay attention.
- Okay. - Yeah.
Take your time with the knees. Don't get too close.
Don't- - Yeah, it's uh...
- Don't crowd the knee.
So you're, the way you set that up
is when she comes in
is your hands will keep that distance.
Boom. That way they see it.
Okay? - Okay.
- Or you can just put your left hand, you know, whoa.
That way they see the knee. Okay?
- Action. - Wait. Action?
- Are we good? - Yeah.
- Are we, are we rolling and ready?
- We're rolling. - Okay.
- And time. - Any time.
- Ready? Go.
(crowd cheering)
(crowd clamoring)
And cut. Good job.
That, that knee looked pretty good to me.
I don't know. It almost looked real. (chuckles)
- Action. - Go normal speed, girls.
Roll her in the corner. - Go in the corner.
Get cheap on her. Boom, boom, boom with that hand.
Referee, (indistinct). - Then finish her off.
- And action.
(fighters exhale sharply)
- Sorry. It's not working - It's okay.
- [Director] Fight it off, fight it off, fight it off.
There we go, good.
And stop.
Nice. Try that one.
(serious music continues)
- That's good. Nice. - That's nice.
(subdued music)
- [Trainer] Right, two.
Yeah, that's your opportunity right there.
There we go.
(subdued music continues)
- [Trainer] One, two, take her down.
Boom. Good.
Punch her body again. Punch her body.
(serious music)
(serious music continues)
- Because of what happened, we need a new champion.
Well, I've been scouting new talent.
She could be the one.
(fighter exhaling sharply)
- [Trainer] That's it.
- Will they come for her?
- I've never seen anybody fight like her before.
If packaged correctly,
Excelsis FC 42 isn't just another fight.
- It's a super fight.