The Smashing Machine Preview
If you haven’t heard, there’s a new blockbuster movie hitting theaters soon that’s rooted in mixed martial arts – The Smashing Machine.
When does The Smashing Machine release in theaters?
Depicting the story of MMA legend Mark Kerr, The Smashing Machine releases October 3 and stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Kerr, a former two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion.
Who stars in The Smashing Machine?
Alongside Dwayne Johnson will be Emily Blunt, playing Kerr’s then-wife Dawn Staples, and someone special to Kicksite – client, mentor, and champion, Robero “Cyborg” Abreu as Fabio Gurgel, a 4-time World Jiu-Jitsu Champion.
Initial reactions to The Smashing Machine
The film is already receiving a ton of attention ahead of its release. The biopic is expected to be a potential Oscar contender for Best Picture as well as Lead Actor for the WWE Legend. The early reactions provide high praise, with an 81% from Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.8/10 from IMDB (Ratings as of September 10). Audience reviews have described the film as raw, emotional, and authentic. It is receiving acclaim both for the powerful story and messaging coupled with Johnson’s dramatic performance.
The crew is on their first leg of the press tour for the film. It kicked off with a showing at the Venice Film Festival, receiving a 15-minute standing ovation. As the press tour continues, the hype is only expected to continue building.
Now, before you head to the theaters to watch it, here is some background information on Kerr’s story.
Who is Mark Kerr?
Kerr’s Early Fighting Background
Warning: Some possible spoilers ahead
The movie will follow Kerr’s journey throughout his fighting career, beginning with his UFC stint in the late 1990s all the way to the Pride Championships in 2009. Over the course of that journey, we can expect to see the many highs and lows of his story. Viewers will see how he dominated MMA with an 11-0 start to his career, his battle against a painkiller addiction, and his use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).
Viewers will likely go through many emotions as they learn more about Kerr’s background and how his greatness on the mat was bolstered by his wrestling background. He began wrestling as a freshman in high school, eventually winning the state championship in Ohio. His dominance didn’t stop there. Kerr would go on to wrack up a long list of accomplishments once he started wrestling in college.
Kerr’s Wrestling Accomplishments
- 1992 Division-I Champion and All American
- 3-time Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Champion
- 1992 2nd Place Finish at the World Cup (One ahead of future Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle)
- 1993 & 1994 USA World Team Trials Winner
- 1994 World Cup Gold Medalist
- 1995 Silver Medalist at Pan American Games
Kerr’s wrestling success and his interest in mixed martial arts led him to higher-level competitions. His highly anticipated debut into the world of MMA came in January 1997 at Brazil’s World Vale Tudo Championship 3.
It was this event where Kerr cemented himself as a true threat to all fighters with his overbearing size and skill. He took down his first two opponents with ease, though he broke his hand leading to the title match. His Championship opponent was Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter Fabio Gurgel, played by Cyborg. The two battled for 30 minutes, with Kerr overwhelming him for much of the bout. Eventually, the ref stopped the fight due to Gurgel’s inability to defend himself and Kerr took home the title. Kerr had taken down three well-known martial artists and immediately had the community’s attention.
The next stop was the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the rest is history that you’ll see depicted in theaters soon!
Mark Kerr’s early career was nothing short of dominant, even grabbing four ADCC World Championships on the way. Shortly after, due to an evolution of the sport and his personal struggles, he began to lose matches more frequently, ultimately leading to his retirement. Today, Kerr is regarded as one of the most enticing fighters in MMA history. Some remember him for his best moments, others for his worst. Either way, The Smashing Machine expects to draw in many and give viewers a peek behind the curtain into the life of those who compete in combat sports.