Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, known for his physically demanding roles, reportedly endured a legitimate punch from a professional mixed martial artist during the filming of "The Smashing Machine," a biographical drama chronicling the life of UFC and Pride Fighting Championships veteran Mark Kerr. Johnson, who portrays Kerr, revealed at a recent combat sports media roundtable that the incident, which occurred while executing his own stunt choreography, left him momentarily disoriented, a state captured authentically in the upcoming film.

The incident unfolded during the recreation of Kerr’s 2000 Pride Grand Prix finals fight against Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist Kazuyuki Fujita. Johnson described the impact to CBS Sports, stating, "It felt like when you get rocked by a real fighter multiple times." He elaborated on the immediate aftermath: "There’s a moment in the trailer where I’m on my knees in the ring and I look up dazed. That’s real. I got my bell rung. Benny said, ‘Hold on! Stay right there!’ I was seeing three heads of Benny Safdie and 15 heads of Mark Kerr." This candid admission underscores Johnson’s commitment to portraying the raw, often brutal, reality of professional fighting.

The director, Benny Safdie, known for his gritty, realistic cinematic style in films such as "Uncut Gems," had communicated his vision to Johnson before production commenced. Safdie expressed a desire to "never cut away" from the lead actor during the intense fight sequences, a directive that immediately signaled to Johnson the physical demands of the role. Despite having two capable stuntmen on reserve, Johnson understood that his direct involvement in the action would be paramount to achieving Safdie’s desired level of authenticity.

While many of the film’s fight scenes are shot from the crowd’s perspective, one pivotal sequence required a close-up, bringing the audience intimately into the action. This particular scene, depicting a crucial moment in Kerr’s career, necessitated an unfiltered portrayal of the impact of a punch. Johnson, embracing a form of method acting for the role, found himself needing to persuade his scene partner, a professional mixed martial artist, to deliver a full-force blow.

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"I said, ‘Hey brother, you’re pulling the punches. You need to lay it in and hit me,’" Johnson recounted. The fighter, respectful of Johnson’s stature, initially hesitated. "He said, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘Benny isn’t cutting away. This is the end of the movie. You know this really happened to Mark. You have to lay it in.’ I said, ‘Look, just don’t hit me here, you’ll break my jaw. Don’t hit me in the temple, you’ll kill me. But if you can hit me in my cheekbone.’" The fighter’s reluctance was evident: "He goes, ‘No, no, no. I’m not going to do that.’ I said, ‘I need you to hit me.’ He goes, ‘I respect you. I’m not doing that.’"

At this juncture, Johnson sought Safdie’s intervention. The director reinforced the necessity of the authentic impact for the scene’s integrity. "Benny said, ‘You have to hit him because I’m not cutting away.’" Johnson then made a final, personal appeal to his scene partner: "I grabbed him and said, ‘Please, brother. It’s you and me here. It’s OK.’"

Adding a humorous yet telling anecdote to the discussion, Safdie, who joined Johnson and Kerr at the roundtable, interjected. He recalled legendary MMA pioneer and actor Bas Rutten, who also features in the film, overhearing the exchange. "Bas Rutten was listening to this whole thing, and said, ‘Just hit him! He’s just The Rock! Hit him!’" Johnson confirmed the outcome of the persistent encouragement: "He hit me so hard! That’s what you see in the movie. Not only is he hitting me, but I realized watching back that he’s coming down. That was a punch! Dude!" This interaction highlights the unique blend of professional discipline and candid camaraderie often found on film sets, particularly those demanding high levels of physical authenticity.

The film delves into the complex life and career of Mark Kerr, a decorated mixed martial artist who achieved significant success in the nascent stages of the sport. Kerr rose to prominence in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the late 1990s, winning two consecutive UFC Heavyweight Tournament Championships at UFC 14 and UFC 15. His aggressive, wrestling-based style earned him the moniker "The Smashing Machine." Following his UFC tenure, Kerr transitioned to Pride Fighting Championships in Japan, where he continued to compete against some of the world’s top heavyweights. The recreated fight against Kazuyuki Fujita, a prominent figure in Japanese pro wrestling and MMA known for his powerful physique and grappling prowess, was a pivotal moment in Kerr’s career, occurring at the height of his fame and preceding some of his well-documented personal struggles that the film, like the documentary it is based on, aims to explore. Fujita himself had a notable career in both professional wrestling, primarily with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and mixed martial arts, where he competed against other legends like Fedor Emelianenko and Ken Shamrock in Pride.

"The Smashing Machine" is based on the critically acclaimed 2002 HBO documentary "The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr," which offered an unflinching look at Kerr’s career, his battles with addiction, and the physical and emotional toll of professional fighting. The film not only stars Johnson as Kerr but also features Emily Blunt as Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples.

The cast is further bolstered by the inclusion of several notable figures from the combat sports world, adding layers of authenticity to the portrayal of the MMA landscape of the era. UFC alum and two-division Bellator champion Ryan Bader takes on the role of UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman. Coleman, an Olympic wrestler, was a pioneer of ground-and-pound, becoming the first UFC Heavyweight Champion and later winning the Pride Fighting Championships 2000 Open Weight Grand Prix. His "Hammer House" training camp was legendary in the early days of MMA. Undisputed boxing heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist Oleksandr Usyk also makes an appearance in the film, marking a foray into acting for the Ukrainian pugilist known for his exceptional technical skill and ring IQ. As mentioned, Bas Rutten, a former UFC Superfight Champion and King of Pancrase, portrays himself, lending his unique perspective and experience to the project. Rutten’s career spans the formative years of MMA, and his insights into the sport’s evolution are widely respected.

The commitment to practical effects and authentic performances, as evidenced by Johnson’s willingness to absorb real blows, aligns with director Benny Safdie’s established reputation for immersive storytelling. The film aims to not only depict the physical brutality of the sport but also the complex psychological and personal challenges faced by athletes at its highest levels.

"The Smashing Machine" is scheduled to premiere on October 3 in the United States, offering audiences a raw and intense look into the life of a sports icon and the demanding world of professional combat.

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