Becoming a G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) is about more than just being talented in your sport — it’s about building a legend around yourself, which doesn’t come naturally to many athletes. Just ask the mixed martial artist and UFC champion Israel Adesanya, who quickly became a force to be reckoned with in the world of MMA throughout the 2010s. With his unique training background and even more unique inspirations, there’s no other fighter like him in the ring. 

However, with great power comes great responsibility, which documentarian Zoe McIntosh shows in Stylebender. Returning to Tribeca after the 2017 premiere of her acclaimed short, The World in Your Window, McIntosh traces Adesanya’s UFC career starting with his 2019 middleweight title win. In the process, she unwraps a fascinating portrait of the modern athlete, charismatic and complex in equal measure. UFC fanatics and those who have never seen a match will find Adesanya’s journey toward greatness captivating, engrossing, and illustrative of the larger-than-life personality you need to succeed in athletics.––Jose Rodriguez

Zoe McIntosh