5 MMA documentaries we'd love to see

With ESPN's "The Last Dance" whetting the appetite of folks desperate for any sort of sports content, theScore editors have joined forces to look back at some of the most captivating narratives that deserve similar treatment to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dynasty.

Previous editions of the series examined documentary topics for football, hockey, basketball, golf, tennis, and college football. Today, we're looking at five MMA documentaries we'd love to see:

'The Main Event'

Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Conor McGregor: the buildup was chaotic, the fight was dramatic, and the aftermath was dangerous.

McGregor's infamous bus attack in April 2018 resulted in his arrest and Dana White's disgust, but it also created an unimaginable buzz for the biggest fight in UFC history - and, for what it's worth, the organization happily used footage of the rampage to promote the bout.

The trash talk between Nurmagomedov and McGregor was incredibly personal, and, in the end, the Russian retained the lightweight title with a fourth-round submission of the former two-division champion at UFC 229 in October 2018.

A brawl ensued both inside and outside the Octagon after the fight, putting a dark cloud over an otherwise successful event, which reportedly shattered the UFC's pay-per-view record with 2.4-million buys.

Nurmagomedov and McGregor took the sports world by storm two years ago, and a deep dive into their battle would be must-see TV for MMA fans.

'The Richest Sale in Sports'

In 2016, talent agency Endeavor purchased the UFC for about $4 billion, breaking the record for the most expensive sports purchase ever.

The sale led to the departure of brothers Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta - who bought the UFC for $2 million in 2001 - as majority owners, while Dana White kept his position as UFC president. Meanwhile, Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel and executive chairman Patrick Whitesell entered the MMA world for the first time.

We'd like a closer look at why the Fertittas decided to sell the promotion and Endeavor offered up such a staggering price, how White felt about parting ways with his childhood friends, and what's changed in the sport since the sale four years ago.

'Own Worst Enemy'

Jon Jones is one of the greatest fighters of all time, and he remains on top of the sport today. The only person who's ever held him back is himself.

Inside the Octagon, "Bones" has been unstoppable ever since his UFC debut in 2008. He's the youngest champion in the promotion's history, and he recently broke the record for the most wins in title bouts. However, issues out of the cage - from run-ins with the law to anti-doping suspensions - have hindered Jones' greatness.

A multi-part documentary on his career could look at Jones' rise to fame as a kid from New York, his flaws as a human being, and how the two intertwine. It could feature interviews with Jones' brothers, Arthur and Chandler, who have both played in the NFL, his longtime coaches at Jackson-Wink MMA in Albuquerque, and his most notable opponents.

The film could also highlight Jones' relationship with former two-division champion Daniel Cormier, which is one of the greatest rivalries in UFC history. They fought twice from 2015 to 2017, with Jones winning the first meeting and the second bout ending in a no-contest after he failed a USADA drug test.

Jones has challenged for the 205-pound belt three times, yet he's undefeated in UFC title bouts. That shows how talented he is, and also how many times personal decisions have set him back.

'The Downfall of Strikeforce'

In 2011, Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, purchased one of the last-standing rival MMA promotions: Strikeforce.

There were several organizations that competed with the UFC in years prior. But when it purchased Strikeforce after buying out Pride FC and the WEC, the sport's most notable fighters were all under one roof. Standout competitors, including future champions Cormier and Luke Rockhold, as well as top contenders Gilbert Melendez, Ronaldo Souza, and Gegard Mousasi, joined the UFC roster.

Bellator has since emerged as the most promising rival, but the UFC remains easily the biggest promotion in MMA.

A documentary could examine what led to the downfall of Strikeforce, why the UFC pursued its purchase, how Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker felt about it, how the purchase has impacted the UFC and the sport, and what MMA might look like had Strikeforce lived on.

'The Dollars of Combat'

The finances of MMA are an interesting subject.

Athletes at the top of the sport - champions and superstars - make a solid wage. However, at the bottom end, fighters on UFC preliminary cards make as little as $10,000 to show and $10,000 to win. Many have to work other jobs on top of their fighting careers to simply put food on the table.

This wouldn't be easy to pull off, but a documentary that highlights the lives of UFC fighters at all levels would be a very informative watch for MMA fans. It could feature the likes of McGregor - by far the highest-paid athlete in MMA - and, on the contrary, a recent addition to the UFC roster who may be struggling to stay afloat.

The documentary could also investigate exactly what the split of revenue is between the UFC and its fighters. In most major sports organizations, such as the NFL or NBA, the split is about 50-50. Though an exact number isn't known, the percentage of UFC revenue that goes to the fighters appears to be far lower.