Beyond the ring: Who is Mark Kerr, 'The Smashing Machine' that Dwayne Johnson plays in the film?

To the roaring crowds, he was “the smashing machine”, a seemingly unstoppable force in mixed martial arts. Mark Kerr’s dominance in the UFC and ADCC was undeniable. But behind the champion’s persona lay a man battling addiction and personal demons. The upcoming film, The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson, promises to explore both sides of his complex figure.

Who is Mark Kerr?

Mark Kerr was born in Toledo, Ohio, on December 21, 1968. Kerr started wrestling at the high school level and went on to wrestle at Syracuse University, where he was an NCAA Division I Champion in 1992 at 190 lbs by beating future UFC legend Randy Couture in the finals.

Achievements at MMA & UFC

Switching to MMA in 1997, Kerr established himself overnight by claiming the World Vale Tudo Championship 3 tournament title. He thereafter won consecutive UFC Heavyweight Tournament titles at UFC 14 and UFC 15. Kerr soon fought in Japan's PRIDE Fighting Championships and was one of the best heavies in the world there. In submission grappling, he took several titles in the ADCC World Championships and was also invited into the ADCC Hall of Fame in 2022.

Personal battles

Even though he succeeded, Kerr struggled with painkiller addiction and his personal life was complicated by an on-again, off-again relationship with his then-wife, Dawn Staples. All these issues were documented in the 2002 HBO documentary "The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr.

Kerr's life story is being adapted into a biographical film titled "The Smashing Machine," set for release on October 3, 2025. Directed by Benny Safdie and produced by A24, the film stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Mark Kerr and Emily Blunt as Dawn Staples. The trailer exhibits Johnson's dramatic transformation and dives deep into Kerr's career and personal battles.

The film has attracted significant attention for Johnson’s striking transformation into Mark Kerr, as well as for his departure from the action-hero roles he's typically known for.

During a conversation with Collider, Dana White, CEO of UFC, commented, “This has been a passion project for him for a while, and he has 100% of the support from the UFC. Obviously, he's a friend of mine, and this is his chance for an Oscar.”

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