WWE's The Rock Reveals Workout Regimen, Schedule for MMA Training Camp for New Movie
Mike Chiari@@mikechiari
Featured Columnist IVMay 7, 2024
WWE legend and Hollywood acting star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson provided a glimpse Tuesday into his preparation for his role in an upcoming movie about UFC trailblazer Mark Kerr.
In an Instagram video, The Rock ran down what his daily training schedule has been like, noting that he typically starts with some high-intensity cardio, followed by weight training and more cardio before finally getting in the cage and learning the ins and outs of mixed martial arts.
The Rock also posted photos on Monday from a recent training session:
Dwayne Johnson @TheRockTraining camp for "Smashing Machine"<br><br>For the role and life of Mark Kerr<br>Two time <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UFC</a> Heavyweight Tournament Champion World Vale Tudo Champion<br><br>Learning, sweating daily - grateful to grow.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheSmashingMachine?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheSmashingMachine</a><br>Written & Directed by Benny Safdie<a href="https://twitter.com/A24?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@A24</a> <a href="https://t.co/XshHUtnS9c">pic.twitter.com/XshHUtnS9c</a>
The Rock thanked UFC president Dana White and current and former UFC fighters Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier and Jorge Masvidal for their guidance, and said he is "having a f--king blast" mirroring the life of an MMA fighter through his training camp.
Fresh off competing at WrestleMania 40 last month, The Rock was already in immaculate shape, but pro wrestling and MMA training are two different animals, and he is getting a crash course in the latter.
The Rock divulged that the name of the movie is The Smashing Machine, which is Kerr's nickname. He also said filming will begin "in a couple of weeks."
Kerr, 55, was one of UFC's first huge stars, winning the UFC 14 and UFC 15 heavyweight tournaments in 1997.
He was also an amateur wrestling star before breaking into MMA, winning an NCAA Division I title at 190 pounds in 1992 while competing at Syracuse University.
The Rock is a longtime fan and admirer of UFC and the MMA world as a whole, and that coupled with his immense star power made him the ideal choice to play Kerr in The Smashing Machine.
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