Jake Gyllenhaal's "UFC debut" was a night to remember.
The hot-shot movie star made his way into the Octagon last year for his lead role in 'Road House.' Former two-division UFC Champion Conor McGregor is Gyllenhaal's co-star in the 1989 remake, which premieres this Friday at the SXSW Festival.
Gyllenhaal plays 'Elwood Dalton', an ex-UFC fighter turned head honcho for a roadhouse in the Florida Keys.
The UFC took part in the movie, letting Gyllenhaal and crew film a live-action scene in the middle of UFC 285 last March. Gyllenhaal's Dalton was pitted against an actual former UFC fighter in Jay Hieron and the two crossed paths at the official weigh-ins the day before and again in the cage on fight night.
On Thursday, the promotion dropped a cheesy yet somehow epic trailer for 'Dalton vs. Harris', featuring Gyllenhaal and Kieron's respective characters.
You can watch it below.
Gyllenhaal's Dalton is seen in the promo training at the UFC Performance Institute and more of the star's Hollywood highlights are caught on camera.
"Elwood Dalton, this guy's very confident and of the best fighters we have ever seen in the UFC," UFC play-by-play expert Jon Anik read off the script.
Hieron's "Jax 'Jetway' Harris" also gets some shine as 'the most dominant champion in the game', according to Joe Rogan's commentary in the promo.
Spoiler alert! If you somehow missed the footage of 'Dalton vs. Harris' spreading like wildfire live at UFC 285, here it is:
Gyllenhaal mounted a climactic comeback to knock out Hieron with a flying knee in the opening round of the choreographed fight. But, the action didn't stop there as Gyllenhaal did his best impression of Jorge Masvidal and swung for more 'super necessary' shots on his already decimated opponent.
Jay Hieron relives filming the scene with Gyllenhaal in front of 19,000+ fans in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"When you’re dealing with a live event, a live crowd, we were using the UFC’s camera angles – we usually have a camera set up in a way to help sell the choreography – no, no, we’re dealing with a live crowd, where if it looks terrible, they’re going to let you know,” Hieron told MMA Junkie Radio.
“We were in the belly of the beast. We’re in the UFC crowd. They’re the most hardcore fans in sports arenas. So, just to get the crowd going and get them all riled up, it was a great experience.”
Hieron's real-life UFC run lasted four months as the now-retired welterweight lost against the likes of Jake Ellenberger and former world champ Tyron Woodley.
This was actually Jay Hieron's first time stepping into the UFC Octagon since losing to 'The Chosen One' more than a decade ago.
Watch Jake Gyllenhaal, Conor McGregor and Jay Hieron star in 'Road House', available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, come Mar. 22.
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