'Tapout: Complete Series'
(Charles “Mask” Lewis, Jr., Dan “Punkass” Caldwell, Tim “SkySkrape” Katz, et al / 5-Disc DVD / NR / 2010 / IMAGE Entertainment)
Overview: Follow the TAPOUT crew as they travel around the country in search of promising MMA fighters to develop and possibly sponsor. Each episode follows the training of one fighter, culminating in a fight at a professional MMA event.
DVD Verdict: My God, if you’re a fan of mixed martial arts you are gonna LOVE this series! Luckily, you'll also be familiar with all the terms used, inclusive of the title, but if not ... the term “tap out” is in reference to someone giving in to an opponent. Something now common place as an expression of exhaustion and surrender.
But Tap Out is also a well-known sportswear company, more commonly written as, TapouT. This latter name usage is a true rags-to-riches story of three friends who created and developed an iconic company within the fastest growing sport in the world.
Now, fans of the sportswear company can watch the complete Versus TV show TapouT and follow the daily adventures of three of the most recognizable, non-fighters in all of MMA.
Anyway, 'Tap Out - The Complete Series' captures two seasons in incredible color, grim, sweat, and work ethic! Documenting the successes, struggles, and failures that go with being a big business (sportswear) attached to a big business (MMA fighting), it is real, so frickin' real to watch.
Sure, it may seem formulaic, but the show itself does a solid job of keeping with the attitude of the TapouT company – never quit, never surrender.
The episodes themselves each focus on TapouT-sponsored fighters throughout the country – everyone from a female fighter and a momma’s boy to a full-time police officer, a farmer, and a homeless fighter in need of support.
Truly a look “behind the scenes” of the modern day MMA, you won’t see much of the flashy, show-stopping UFC here. Instead, viewers gain exposure to the reality of the small-town athlete who dreams of someday making it big and headlining a main event. [JH] This is a Full Screen Presentation (1.33:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with all 20 memorable episodes!
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