The Martial Arts Villain Who Gave Jackie Chan His Greatest Fights

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Benny “The Jet” Urquidez may not have been a leading movie star, but he holds a significant spot in the annals of martial arts cinema. The majority of his film career was dedicated to organizing martial arts sequences, performing stunts, and appearing in minor roles in action films from the 1980s and 1990s. However, Urquidez still managed to make an impact, primarily due to his association with two Jackie Chan movies – “Wheels on Meals” and “Dragons Forever.” He played pivotal roles in both these films.

In the 1980s, Jackie Chan collaborated with martial arts actors Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung on several kung fu films, three of which starred the trio prominently. These movies, now collectively known as “the Three Dragons trilogy,” are considered some of the best contributions to the kung fu movie genre during that decade, frequently being listed among the greatest martial arts films ever made. Interestingly, two of these movies owe a significant portion of their genre-defining status to the contributions of actor Benny Urquidez, despite his limited screen time.

Benny “The Jet” Urquidez Was Jackie Chan’s Main Rival In 2 Different Movies

Jackie Chan vs. Benny “The Jet” Urquidez Were The Main Attractions Of Both Wheels On Meals & Dragons Forever

Benny “The Jet” Urquidez portrayed a nameless goon in the martial arts films “Wheels on Meals” and “Dragons Forever.” In the 1984 movie “Wheels on Meals,” the main characters, played by Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao, encountered two of the antagonist’s henchmen, one of whom was Urquidez. Initially, the heroes appeared to be at a disadvantage during their initial fight, but they were given a chance for a rematch towards the end of the film. As Sammo Hung’s character engaged in a fierce battle with the villain, Mondale, Chan and Biao’s characters eventually finished their fights. Afterward, they teamed up to deliver a swift, decisive victory over Mondale.

In the climax of the movie, all three dragons were locked in combat, each one having its own grand adversary. Nevertheless, Chan’s duel with Urguidez stood out as the most captivating moment in Wheels on Meals’ epic conclusion. The film spent several minutes showcasing their fierce confrontation, which saw a back-and-forth struggle until Chan’s character ultimately emerged victorious.

In the film “Dragons Forever,” which was released four years later, the trio reappeared, with Urguidez playing a role very similar to his previous one. Much like in “Wheels on Meals,” Urguidez’s character primarily served as Jackie Chan’s opponent during the epic battle between the main characters and the villain’s troops of henchmen. After delivering an impressive knockout punch to Yuen Biao’s Tung Tak-hiao, Urguidez’s character squared off against Jackie Chan’s Jackie Lung in a fierce showdown reminiscent of their iconic fight from “Wheels on Meals.

Why Benny “The Jet” Urquidez Was The Perfect Choice To Fight Jackie Chan In Both Movies

Urquidez Had A Remarkable Background As A Martial Artist

In these Hong Kong kung fu films featuring Jackie Chan, it might have seemed unusual to select Urguidez given his limited acting background. However, this wasn’t a completely unheard-of strategy. Many martial arts movies in the past have employed a similar tactic, with Bruce Lee’s “Way of the Dragon” being one of the most recognized instances. In that film, Bruce Lee didn’t cast an established actor for his major fight scene; instead, he chose Chuck Norris, who was relatively unknown at the time as an actor. Instead, Norris was chosen for his martial arts expertise, much like how Urguidez was selected in these films.

In the realm of martial arts, Benny “The Jet” Urguidez was highly revered during his era. As a skilled professional fighter, he accumulated numerous world titles in kickboxing and karate. Over the course of his career, he boasted an extraordinary record, incurring just one known defeat. Given his impressive achievements, it’s not entirely unexpected that Urguidez eventually appeared in some martial arts films, primarily as a mute henchman.

Similar to Chuck Norris’ character in Way of the Dragon, Urquidez didn’t have to deliver a compelling villain performance since other characters took on the role of central antagonists in Wheels on Meals and Dragons Forever. Instead, he functioned as the “muscle,” handling the fighting for them. However, with limited screen-time, Urquidez effectively portrayed a formidable, relentless fighter in both Jackie Chan films.

Benny Urquidez Was Jackie Chan’s Greatest Movie Opponent

Urquidez Had The Skills To Serve As A Believable Challenge For Jackie Chan’s Characters

In retrospect, it’s challenging to find a more formidable opponent for Jackie Chan than Benny Urquidez in the movies “Wheels on Meals” and “Dragons Forever”. Throughout his career, Jackie Chan has engaged in numerous one-on-one battles with an array of actors portraying his adversaries; he’s squared off against Jet Li (“The Forbidden Kingdom”), Hwang In-shik (“The Young Master”), and Hwang Jang Lee (“Drunken Master”). However, since many of his best fights involve multiple characters, only a select few can be considered the top Jackie Chan movie villain in these matchups.

In two of Jackie Chan’s final fights, Urquidez proved to be a formidable adversary who held his own against Chan’s character. His skilled martial arts moves were evident throughout the battles, making it clear that he was a truly talented fighter. Furthermore, in movies like “Wheels on Meals” and “Dragons Forever”, Urquidez managed to keep up with Jackie Chan, trading blows effortlessly, allowing for extended, seamless fight scenes.

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2025-05-20 00:18