This upcoming doc shows one trans athlete’s journey to the MMA ring

Since her debut on the professional MMA circuit three years ago, Alana McLaughlin has been fighting for a new match amid growing opposition to trans inclusion in sports. Now, she’s telling her story in her own words through a new documentary, and the first trailer is out now.

Unfightable, the new documentary from Fuse Media, follows McLaughlin’s personal and professional career—from growing up trans in South Carolina, finding community in Portland, enduring a military tour in Afghanistan, and finally stepping into the MMA ring. When she made her debut in 2021, it had been nearly a decade since the first out trans athlete, Fallon Fox, made pro MMA history in a career spanning 2012-2014.

“MMA is probably one of the sports that people are most going to be pissed off about a trans woman participating because of the violent aspect of the sport in the first place,” McLaughlin points out in the new trailer.

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The world recently witnessed that backlash during the Paris Olympics, where boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-tang both endured baseless speculation over their gender identity and transphobic hate—despite neither being transgender.

“I was disappointed with a lot of the media coverage,” McLaughlin said per OutSports. “The rampant speculation and the wild claims being made by [a] certain billionaire children’s book author. There is also a definite disappointment for some friendly folk who were defending Imane, but don’t show that same energy for trans athletes.”

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In spite of the hostile climate for trans athletes, McLaughlin is not backing down. “I’m still looking for a fight,” she said. “Until I can’t do it anymore, that’s what I’m trying to do.

“Sitting in the corner, keeping quiet and letting it pass you by doesn’t help you in any way.”

Through this documentary, McLaughlin wants to show other trans people what’s possible. “I hope that they see that as hard as things are that we can still plant our feet and start swinging,” she said. “It’s possible, even as difficult as things are, and we can make some kind of difference.

“It’s frustrating that there is regulatory stuff not going our way. I just hope folks can take some kind of comfort in seeing that it’s been done.”

Unfightable will have limited theatrical releases in New York on September 13-19 and LA September 20-26. The documentary will be available for wide release via streaming platforms ViX and Fuse TV in October.