Director: Hadi Ghorbani, Heydar Ghorbani
Tehran ta Bangkok is a 2023 Iranian documentary directed by Hadi Ghorbani and Heydar Ghorbani, following MMA fighter Amir Ali Akbari through the grueling weeks of preparation that carried him from training camps in Tehran all the way to a championship bout in Bangkok.
What is Tehran ta bankuk about?
The film tracks every phase of Amir Ali Akbari's build-up toward a high-stakes Mixed Martial Arts contest held in Bangkok, where he is set to meet a formidable Canadian competitor. The camera stays close as coaches map out a game plan, sparring partners push Akbari to his limits, and the fighter himself works through the physical and mental weight of stepping into an international cage. The documentary captures the quiet moments between sessions as much as the intensity of full-contact drills, letting viewers feel how ambition, sacrifice, and national pride intertwine before the final bell rings in Thailand.
Cast & crew
The film is directed by brothers Hadi Ghorbani and Heydar Ghorbani, a duo whose documentary work focuses on Iranian athletic stories. At the center of the film is Amir Ali Akbari, an Iranian MMA athlete whose preparation and competitive drive anchor every frame. No additional credited cast members are listed for this production.
Context & significance
For the Iranian diaspora, stories of athletes representing their homeland on a global stage carry particular emotional weight. Mixed Martial Arts is a relatively young discipline within Iranian sports culture, and seeing a compatriot compete at an international level in Bangkok—far from home, facing a Canadian opponent—resonates with the experience of Iranians scattered across the world who follow their athletes with fierce loyalty. The documentary format, running just under fifty minutes, keeps the storytelling direct and unadorned, a style that suits the subject: a fighter who lets his performance speak for itself.
Where & how to watch
Tehran ta Bangkok is available to stream on K-Time with original Persian audio. Watch on your browser, connected TV, or Android device with no VPN needed and no geo-blocking. Start or cancel your K-Time subscription anytime.