Thrilla

Ricardo Aguirre Jr.’s documentary Thrilla is the story of competitive Jiu-Jitsu fighter Mike “Thrilla” Davila and Adam “Bomb” Collarile as Mike prepares to compete in the prestigious 2020 Eddie Bravo Invitational, scheduled to take place in seven months. Mike is a black belt in Jiu Jitsu and is considered one of the front runners to win the event, but with the specter of COVID hanging over his head, Mike needs to lose five pounds to cut weight.

The documentary follows Mike and Adam on their journey to lose weight and prepare for the tournament. Not only that, we get into the mindset of the fighters. Mike talks about his journey to the top and how he developed his style and attitude toward fighting over time. We also see that it’s not just about losing weight but about what rapid weight loss does to the body and mind.

Only recently has Jiu Jitsu appeared on my radar. It is primarily a sport of grappling, and the Eddie Bravo Invitational puts a new spin on the competition in what is called Jiu Jitsu Overtime. The matches start with two competitors already in a grappling position. The goal is to be the first to escape the hold in the fastest time or force your opponent to submit. Sixteen of the best fighters compete in a sudden-death tournament.

“…Mike prepares to compete in the prestigious 2020 Eddie Bravo Invitational…”

As the months passed, Mike and Adam opened a gym in New York City, only to close it a month later due to the city’s COVID quarantine. Training for the tournament became a mental challenge, and Thrilla shows how the Jiu-Jitsu community came together to support one another and bring the sport into the spotlight as part of UFC Fight Pass.

Thrilla is shot in a video diary style. Documentarian Ricardo Aguirre Jr. is right there with his camera, documenting Mike’s surge to the top without a single clue how Mike’s story will end. Will COVID-19 shut down his spirits? Will he make weight to qualify? Will he win? No outcome is guaranteed. We have an athlete that we can root for from start to finish. In Mike, we have a compelling story of a man channeling adversity through his sport. Adam is also a friend and fellow competitor dedicated to seeing Mike’s dream come true.

As a documentary, Thrilla is fairly straightforward in portraying this true-life sports drama. It features interviews with Mike, Adam, and other members of their gym. In the third act, we are taken behind the scenes at the Eddie Bravo Invitational, as Mike still has some weight to drop. Thrilla is a good indie sports documentary. Sure, it doesn’t have the overproduced ESPN frills, but it does have a lead in Mike Davila, who loves his sport and promotes martial arts excellently.