According to a former two-division world champion, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson`s MMA training for his upcoming movie has been effective.
Johnson, the famous WWE star, is preparing to play former UFC fighter Mark Kerr in “The Smashing Machine.” The movie will depict Kerr`s struggles with painkiller addiction during his MMA career.
To prepare for this challenging role, Dwayne Johnson immersed himself in MMA training, sharing his progress on social media. While his skills looked impressive to casual viewers, the question remained: would a seasoned MMA expert be convinced?
Ryan Bader, a former Bellator heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, who has fought against MMA legends like Jon Jones and Fedor Emelianenko, had the opportunity to assess Johnson`s abilities firsthand.
“Yeah, he looked good,” Bader commented on Johnson`s MMA skills in a recent interview with Submission Radio.
“I`m not saying he looked like a 20-year MMA veteran, but he clearly trained hard. He underwent a real MMA training camp to develop credible skills for the movie.”
“From the clips I`ve seen, it looks convincing. He worked incredibly hard and is in fantastic shape, as always. He`s a massive guy.”
Bader himself is currently focused on his MMA career and doesn`t seem to be pursuing acting after his experience with Johnson.
After a recent loss in February 2024 and his departure from PFL, Bader is now a free agent. He is considering a return to the UFC, where he initially gained recognition in 2008, as a potential way to conclude his MMA journey.
“My manager and I have discussed the idea of a `full circle` return to the UFC to retire there,” Bader mentioned. “Even just for one fight. We`re not sure if the UFC is interested, but it would be a great way to end my career.”
