Weary biology teacher Scott Voss (Kevin James) is determined to raise $48,000 for his struggling school, as it faces cutbacks to its programme that could cost kindly music professor Marty (Henry Winkler) his job.
Some night-school work hardly gets the cash rolling in, but a visit to the home of mature student Niko (Bas Rutten) gives Scott, a former collegiate wrestler, the spark he needs. Niko is an ex-mixed martial arts fighter and, in a stunning bid to win enough prize money to save Marty's job, agrees to train Scott up in the bruising fight format.