Neglia Nexus Poster: Courtesy Neglia Nexus.com
Neglia Nexus Documentary on Lou Neglia Coming Soon
Anyone from the New York/New Jersey area who loves combat sports is familiar with the name, Lou Neglia. There is a culture of martial arts in the region, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who has not heard of Neglia when it comes to martial arts.
Suppose you look up the definition of the word “nexus”. In that case, Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as a connection or link between things, persons, or events especially that is or is part of a chain of causation.
In the heart of the bustling world of mixed martial arts, where fighters grapple for glory and spectators cheer for the adrenaline-pumping action, he is the one man who stands as a true luminary behind the scenes that serves as a northeast nexus into combat sports. Neglia is a visionary promoter who has played an instrumental role in shaping the landscape of MMA, particularly through his renowned promotion, Ring of Combat.
Peter J. Normandia is directing “The Neglia Nexus: The Story of Louis Neglia and The Origins of MMA”, a documentary that looks to delve into the depths of Neglia’s journey. The upcoming documentary aims to unravel the untold stories, passion, and indomitable spirit that have fueled his remarkable career.
From his humble beginnings as a martial artist to becoming a pivotal figure in the combat sports industry, Lou Neglia’s tale is nothing short of inspirational. The documentary seeks to showcase the man behind the scenes, shedding light on his unwavering commitment to elevating the sport of MMA and providing a platform for aspiring fighters to showcase their skills.
Normandia’s film looks to explore not only the life and legacy of Neglia, but all the people his work through martial arts has touched in some way.
“I’m a good storyteller, said Normandia when speaking with MyMMANews about how the film got started. “I know how to dig for a story you know? That’s kind of always been my thing.”
As he started this project, digging through all the work Neglia has done, the story seems to weave itself as Normandia talks to more people about how he has affected their lives through martial arts. Normandia added, “All of those different people have kind of created this nexus which is where we kind of got the name from. People that are all connected, and all tell the story of their passion for combat sports.”
It’s also a story about martial arts.
Sometimes the sporting side, along with some help from Hollywood and social media can both heighten the awareness of it and dampen the art that exists within it. It’s been a while since a film having anything to do with MMA looks at more than just one individual. Before the UFC became the leading brand that brought the sport to fans, there were films like “Choke”(1999) that focused on Rickson Gracie, and “The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr” (2002). Those films served as educational tools for the next generation of martial artists while providing some context to the history of where the sport began.
Normandia’s film seems to already fit that bill at a time when the sport has never been bigger. As someone who is also a martial artist himself, he also feels the story of how martial arts can change people’s lives regardless of what an individual chooses to do with it. There is something beautiful in martial arts that can get washed away in everything else when corporate entities get involved and this film can serve as a reminder of what martial arts can do for someone when they see what it’s done for Neglia and other martial artists.
Because the marketing machine that is the UFC now seems more focused on the brand than it does the martial artists who sweat and bleed to build it. This is not just a documentary; “The Neglia Nexus: Louis Neglia and the Origins of MMA “It’s a front-row seat to the captivating saga of Louis Neglia and the extraordinary world he has crafted that helped build modern MMA. The film is due out this Summer. If you want to follow Normandia’s progress with the film, check out the official website here for updates.
Watch the full interview with Normandia below:
