Hardy vs Edgerton in "Warrior"

Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton take sibling rivalry to new extremes in the fight drama "Warrior".
The physically demanding roles required the two lead actors to look and move like mixed martial arts cage fighters - which meant rigourous training and intense preparation ahead of filming.
SOUNDBITE Joel Edgerton, actor, saying (English):
"You're trying to kind of change your diet and the shape of your body and the skill set and your ability to use your body all at the same time in this mad crash course to get you looking and feeling and belonging in a cage. Looking and feeling like a fighter who in the real world would have had probably maybe upwards of ten years background in the fighting world."
SOUNDBITE Tom Hardy, actor, saying (English):
"It was plate spinning for me. I bit off more than I could chew, I felt, personally. The world of MMA is fascinating and also overwhelming if you're not ready for athleticism at that level."
"Warrior" tells the story of two estranged brothers who face the fight of their lives competing against each other in a high stakes, winner-takes-all mixed martial arts event.
Driven to win the prize money by a secret from his past, ex-marine Tommy Conlon (Hardy) has returned home to enlist the help of his former alcoholic father (Nick Nolte) to train for the fight.
Meanwhile, Brendan, played by Edgerton, an ex-fighter-turned teacher, returns to the ring in a desperate bid to save his family from financial ruin - putting himself on a collision course with his brother - the seemingly unbeatable Tommy.
Despite all the training, out of all the cast, Tom Hardy said there was no contest about who would win in a real fight and Edgerton - from personal experience - agreed.
SOUNDBITE Tom Hardy, actor, saying (English):
"Nick Nolte. Blatant."
SOUNDBITE Joel Edgerton, actor, saying (English):
"Nick jumped on me, we were watching an MMA-- we were watching UFC over at Gavin O'Connor's (director) house and there was a really intense moment, two fighters wrapped up in a jujitsu hold and no one was moving for a while and nick got so tense he leapt on me, started beating me up"
SOUNDBITE Tom Hardy, actor, saying (English):
"Really?"
SOUNDBITE Joel Edgerton, actor, saying (English):
"Yeah and he's heavy. I reckon he would win."
"Warrior" hits UK cinemas on September 23.
Doug MacLaurin, Reuters.