Arkansas / Ouachita National Forest— EVENT 001

BEAR
BRAWL

“It's Rocky meets The Revenant.”

One man vs. 500 pounds of apex predator.
No guns. No knives. Only revenge.

A thriller by Jon Finkel

The Matchup

Think You
Could Win?

Use the sliders below to share your stats — height, weight, strength, and fighting style. We'll let you know if you survive your own bear brawl.

YOUCHALLENGER
34%
Survival probability
Challenger silhouette
LOVER, NOT A FIGHTER
Height6'0"
Weight185 LBS
Strength50/100
Fighting Style
APEX PREDATORMACHO (THE BEAR)
100%
Apex predator
550 lb black bear
URSUS AMERICANUS
Height6'6"
Weight550 LBS
Strength100/100
Fighting StyleCarnage
A Thriller Like No Other

Fight Club meets The Revenant in Bear Brawl, a heartfelt revenge-and-redemption story perfect for fans of Jaws and Rambo.

Brick Bridger, 6'6", 265 pounds, is a two-time NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion, BJJ black belt and winner of eight fights in the UFC before retiring from a knee injury to run his own wrestling academy in his home state of Arkansas. One summer night, he's running fifteen minutes late to his mom's BBQ at their family cabin and disaster strikes. A rogue 450-pound black bear goes on a rampage, breaks into the cabin, kills his mom and puts his brother in a wheelchair. Brick is devastated. Torn apart with guilt. He believes in his heart if he had been there on time he could've stopped the bear.

From that moment forward, Brick vows to get revenge on the beast. No guns. No knives. No weapons. By enlisting the help of a top zoologist, his old wrestling coach and his training partner and brother, Brick goes on a quest to get inside the mind of a bear while training to track and take down the fearsome animal.

This is what happens when a mountain of a man with a black belt fights a black bear.

Bear Brawl takes readers on a blockbuster adventure with pulse-pounding scenes, humor, heart, bear history, William Faulkner (you'll see), and family. Dropping into the action from the first sentence, the pages fly by, covering tracking, training, fighting, philosophy, pain, grief, love and a cast of unforgettable characters you'll root for like you're watching your favorite action movie—or your favorite wrestler.

Praise for Bear Brawl
"

Bear Brawl is Jack Reacher meets The Edge — a white-knuckled thriller that pits one man against nature's apex predator. Jon Finkel delivers a page-turner like no other.

Stayton Bonner
USA Today bestselling author of Bare Knuckle and The Million-Dollar Car Detective
"

I've long been a fan of Jon Finkel's nonfiction work. Turns out his fiction writing is just as engrossing and, amazingly, feels just as real. Bear Brawl, and the battle of Brick vs. Bear, will stay with me for a long time.

Chad Finn
Author and Boston Globe columnist
"

Instead of reaching for your favorite action movie standby, crack open Bear Brawl. Finely crafted with endearing characters and vivid descriptions, Bear Brawl will keep you turning pages.

Brad Balukjian
Los Angeles Times bestselling author of The Wax Pack and The Six Pack

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// Loadout / Easter Eggs

Bear Brawl
Field Guide

Bear Brawl Field Guide — illustrated catalog of gear, vehicles, books, and pop-culture references from the novel