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Who is Mark Kerr? The UFC fighter Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson plays in new ‘The Smashing Machine’ film
Photo by WWE/Getty Images

Mark Kerr is a legend in the UFC, but his biggest moment will come with the release of a movie based on his life called “The Smashing Machine”.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will play Mark Kerr in the movie, in what The Rock has called a passion project of his.

The Smashing Machine will release later this year, with more eyes than ever getting to witness the iconic career of Kerr.

The UFC, PRIDE, and general MMA legend is a figure worthy of his own Hollywood blockbuster, so his time in the spotlight has definitely been earned.


Photo by Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

How old is Mark Kerr?

Mark Kerr is 56 years old, having been born on December 21, 1968. He is long retired from fighting, with his last match being a 25-second defeat against Muhammed Lawal in 2009.

Mark Kerr’s height, weight and reach

Kerr stands at 6 feet 3 inches, although he may have lost an inch or two over the years since his peak height. He fought in the UFC Heavyweight division at a weight of 255 lbs, making him a formidable opponent in the octagon.

Who is Mark Kerr’s ex-wife?

Kerr was previously married to Dawn Staples-Kerr, although the pair have since split up. They first married in 2000 and had a son together, but separated 15 years later in 2015.

Staples-Kerr will be portrayed by Emily Blunt in the upcoming movie about Kerr’s life.

Mark Kerr Instagram

Kerr has an Instagram account with nearly 50,000 followers, although that is sure to increase upon the release of the movie about his life.

On the account markkerrtsm, he posts semi-regularly about his life, posting photos of himself and his family as he goes about his days.

Mark Kerr’s MMA record

WLD (T)KO SUB
10-7-0 2-3 5-2

Mark Kerr documentary

In 2002, a documentary titled “The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr” was released by director John Hyams.

The film was a sobering account of the struggles of a fighter like Kerr, while documenting his success in the UFC and PRIDE in Japan, as well as his friendship with fellow fighter Mark Coleman.

The film was critically acclaimed and inspired a feature film adaptation set to be released in 2025.

Dwayne Johnson will play Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine

Kerr will be portrayed by Johnson in the A24 movie “The Smashing Machine”, set to release later this year.

In an interview with GQ, Johnson spoke about why he took on the role, as it gave him an opportunity to explore dive deeper into a character than he ever had before.

“I knew this was an opportunity to disappear into a character, with prosthetics, and also play somebody who is still alive.

“Someone who has gone through the battles and wars of life. Not only in the Octagon and in the cages, but also about addiction, failure, loss, mental health struggle.

“And that’s the bug that I got bit by and thinking: ‘Oh, this is what I want to do!’…to challenge myself in ways that I hadn’t been challenged.

“Where the material is deeper, it allows me to sink my teeth into something deeper, richer.”

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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