Manny Pacquiao, Robert Whittaker, and More: Netflix Announces Star Athletes for Physical: Asia

The Physical:100 franchise returns bigger and bolder than ever with its most ambitious evolution yet. Today, Netflix revealed the 48 contestants of Physical: Asia — the franchise’s first-ever nation-vs-nation showdown. Eight countries — Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Türkiye, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines — will collide in a high-stakes competition of strength, strategy, and teamwork for nothing less than national pride.

Each six-person squad is anchored by a national superstar who embodies the competitive spirit of their homeland:

KOREA: UFC trailblazer Dong-hyun “Stun Gun” Kim leads a powerhouse squad which includes Olympic gold medalist Yun Sung-bin, and Amotti (Physical: 100 Season 2 winner).

JAPAN: Yushin Okami, one of Asia’s most decorated MMA fighters.

AUSTRALIA: Former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker.

PHILIPPINES: Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, the only eight-division world champion in history.

THAILAND: Muay Thai world champion Superbon.

MONGOLIA: Traditional wrestling star Orkhonbayar Bayarsaikhan.

TÜRKIYE: Four-time oil wrestling champion Recep Kara.

INDONESIA: Physique powerhouse Igedz “Executioner”.

TEAM PHILIPPINES

Completing the six-person squad for the Philippines with Manny Pacquiao are five other Pinoy athletes, including Fil-Am national team sambo athlete Mark Mugen, strongman Ray Jefferson Querubin, national team rugby player Justin Coveney, national team hurdler Robyn Lauren Brown, and crossfit athlete Lara Liwanag.

The series blends elite athleticism with cultural tradition, spotlighting disciplines from combat sports and ball games to track and field — alongside heritage events like Korean ssireum, Mongolian wrestling, Turkish oil wrestling, and Muay Thai. Physical: Asia is more than a clash of athletes; it’s a showcase of heritage, pride, and physical mastery on an unprecedented global stage.

Following acclaimed spin-offs in the U.S. and Italy, this new chapter transforms the fight for individual survival into a national team showdown. Producer Jang Ho-gi noted: “At its heart, the Physical series is about raw competition that transcends disciplines and generations. By bringing national pride into the equation, the battles will be more intense, more emotional, and more unforgettable than ever.”

Uniting world-class athletes, cultural icons, and living legends, Physical: Asia marks the franchise’s first true battle for national pride. The eight-nation spectacle premieres this October, streaming only on Netflix to audiences worldwide.