Kickboxer

David Sloan is imprisoned after being framed by Tong Po. The opening recap shows two years of confinement and the personal stake of his wife Vicky. He writes a letter to her, hoping for a way to clear his name and reunite with her.

While imprisoned, David receives explicit photos of his kidnapped wife from Tong Po, intensifying his anger and resolve. Casey Ford, a DEA official, briefs him that Po plans to host a brutal martial-arts tournament at his private compound as a pathway to power. Ford explains that the DEA can't arrest Po by normal means, and offers David release if he defeats Po in the tournament.

To keep his identity hidden, David uses the alias 'Jack Jones' and travels toward the border. He enters a street fight and easily dispatches two opponents, earning the attention of Brubaker, who scouts fighters for Po. Brubaker invites David to Po's tournament, marking his entry into the deadly competition.

On the way to the border, David steps into a roadside bar to intervene when a group of thugs harasses Megan Laurence. He defeats the assailants and saves Megan, who reveals she plans to join Po's tournament as well. Megan exits with a prickly attitude, noting she doesn't owe him anything but still entering the contest.

David arrives at Po's private compound and is greeted by Darcy Cove, a captive who serves Po's interests. Darcy informs him he must pass qualifying matches, setting the brutal tone for what's ahead. He witnesses Thomas overwhelm another fighter and learns his first assignment is to face Megan, while Lando Smith appears as a potential ally.

At the tournament's seventh anniversary party, Bill introduces Po to the cheering crowd. David slips away to search for his wife, but the compound is heavily guarded. Po tests Megan by offering her a second chance while placing a bounty on her that incites the other fighters.

Megan fights once more but Po adds pressure by hunting her for the bounty, triggering an attack from other fighters. Lando steps in to defend her and escorts her back to her room after a tense standoff. The atmosphere tightens as loyalty and danger collide inside the compound.

That night, David locates his wife but cannot free her before the alarm sounds. He fights through the guards and tries to escape, but the security forces close in and his attempt is thwarted. The failure heightens the danger and locks David deeper into Po's trap.

The next morning, David befriends Megan and offers to help her navigate the rest of the tournament. They form a wary alliance as the competition intensifies. The pair starts to plan how they might survive and advance together.

The tournament's early rounds begin with brutal displays of skill. David witnesses Thomas defeat a female judoka, while Lando and Megan win their own matches. When David is called to fight, a clever feint distracts Po, allowing him to win and slip further toward his goal.

Lando schemes to gather intelligence on David's wife by courting Darcy, who provides information before being caught by Bill. Po tortures Lando to extract the truth about his identity as a DEA agent, and Darcy is tortured to death in front of him. The brutality heightens the stakes for everyone involved.

With the intel compromised, Po captures David, surprised to see his old rival alive. The final day of the tournament begins, setting the stage for a brutal showdown between the two longtime enemies. The arena grows tenser as the truth behind the kidnapping weighs on every decision.

Po declares the remaining fights to be to the death, and the arena becomes a killing field. David defeats Thomas and continues to overpower incoming challengers, leaving only himself and Po standing at the end. Bill then holds Vicky hostage, giving Po a chance to slip away.

David finally defeats Po in a brutal final duel, but Bill interrupts the triumph by taking Vicky hostage. David kills Bill with a precise knife throw and escapes the compound with Vicky. He exits alongside Lando and Megan as Po makes his own escape, and the group heads for safety while Po resumes his pursuit.