MMA is a numbers game, a pacing game, and sometimes a blame game. However, the one thing that characterizes Mixed-rule combat more than any singular style of fighting is extreme physicality. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson seemingly welcomes the full physical experience while filming his upcoming MMA-based biopic.
Johnson brings Mark Kerr to life in the upcoming Benny Safdie film The Smashing Machine. Undisputed heavyweight boxing champ Oleksandr Usyk is also a castmate. A24’s Noah Sacco revealed the news recently to The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. Now, Johnson, aka The Rock, has injured his elbow in preparation.
Any time your film is called ‘The Smashing Machine,’ well, you’re gonna get smashed up…Looks like I have a cantaloupe right there on the bottom of my elbow. I got banged up pretty good today in our scenes…There might be some soft tissue damage in there. That’s a lot of fluid, we’ll see. I got to get it out of there first before I get any kind of MRI. But yeah, the pain feels pretty good. But all good. It is what it is, until it isn’t.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson via Instagram (@therock)
Two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champ Kerr had a contentious running during his time. The Rock is a notoriety in entertainment wrestling; whether or not a lax or even willy-nilly approach would suit this role has initiated many questions. However, the 52-year-old had won over the hearts of fans with his transformation tease, stepping into the role.
Now, his injury adds an extra layer of anticipation to the role. Johnson is no stranger to injuries. Even recently, during WrestleMania XL, many questioned his ability to perform to the best of his ability. This might postpone his alleged return to face current undisputed WWE Undisputed champ Cody Rhodes. But “The Brahma Bull” won’t have to compete injured or be part of a cutthroat grind.
Dwayne Johnson welcomes “jaw-breaking” sensation Oleksandr Usyk to the family
HBO’s hard-hitting 2000 documentary The Smashing Machine chronicled what Mark Kerr went through during his time. He maintained his standing as a 4-fight UFC veteran with highlights at UFC 14: Showdown, UFC 15: Collision Course, PRIDE FC, and ADCC World Championships. He last competed at M-1: Breakthrough in 2009, on a five-fight losing streak.
Oleksandr Usyk and Dwayne Johnson (Source: ringtv.com/the-sun.com)What adds more to his story is the pitfall of PED Usage and unethical coaching that forced him out of the trade eventually. Safe to say, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has an uphill task when he plays the Syracuse University wrestling alum on the big screen. Kerr’s run did give rise to other prominent standouts like Mark ‘The Hammer’ Coleman and Kurt Angle. Kerr also mingled and locked horns with a long list of cause célèbre in wrestling and MMA.
Oleksandr Usyk will play his rival, Igor Vovchanchyn. Check out Johnson’s post welcoming the Ukrainian heavyweight to The Smashing Machine family.
Usyk, 22-0-0 (14 KOs), holds the WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBF heavyweight straps in hand after a split decision win over Tyson Fury. ‘The Cat’ is the first undisputed heavyweight titleholder in the last two decades of a fractured four-belt era.
Concurrently, his jaw-breaker mettle is never in question. However, the lifelong cruiserweight will need more flesh on the midriff levels to play Vovchanchyn. Yet, even without the hulking apparition, Johnson stays aptly in awe of his skills and what he brings to the movie. Usyk’s involvement only piles up the anticipation for such a release.
