BOYKA: UNDISPUTED (2017) ****

Scott Adkins returns to the ring for his third (and so far, best) outing as Yuri Boyka, the World’s Most Complete Fighter.  This time out, he’s out of prison and looking to make a name for himself on the fighting circuit.  After he accidentally kills an opponent in the ring, Boyka puts his bid for glory on hold in order to make amends with the man’s widow.  When he learns that she is basically an indentured servant to a local gangster, Boyka agrees to fight a series of increasingly difficult matches in order to secure her freedom. 

Boyka:  Undisputed plays out sort of like an MMA version of Diggstown as our hero finds himself fighting a number of opponents as part of a bet with the crooked owner of a small town.  There's even a last-minute twist where he is tricked into fighting an extra bout with a notorious prison brawler.  This guy is known as ‘The Nightmare" and he looks like a cross between Hannibal Lecter and Master Blaster from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and he gives Boyka a run for his money.  

The fights are all crisply photographed and competently shot, but like the best sports movies, Boyka:  Undisputed gives you moments that make you cheer outside of the ring too.  I can honestly say that I got a little choked up when the fighter’s widow tells Boyka that she doesn’t need him to save her and he responds, “I’m doing this to save myself!”  Part of that is thanks to Adkins’ terrific performance.  He played a great villain in Undisputed 2 and made for a gruff, but likeable hero in Part 3.   Here, he excels as the brooding Boyka.  His internal struggle to be the best, but to also do the right thing is surprisingly touching. 

In Undisputed 2 and 3, Boyka fought in a prison.  Even though he’s a free man in this one, he finds himself in a prison of another kind:  The prison of his own expectations.  When you’re fighting to be the best, the only enemy you’ll truly face is yourself.  While the fact that he now fights for forgiveness as well as his own personal redemption might make it sound like the character has softened, let me tell you, this new, matured Boyka is just as vicious as ever.  

I don’t want to spoil the ending.  All I will say is that the character comes full circle and his emotional journey is one of the most touching you’ll see all year.  (The final shot gave me goosebumps.)  While I'd love to see Adkins continue to kick ass in more Undisputed sequels, the film ends on such a perfect note that it's going to be hard to top. Then again, I thought Rocky Balboa was the final word on Rocky until Creed came around, so anything is possible.

This is definitely one of the best movies of the year and probably the best Direct to DVD sequel ever made.

AKA:  Boyka:  Undisputed 4.  AKA:  Undisputed 4:  Boyka is Back.