By Ryan Bader, the reigning Bellator heavyweight champion, is temporarily stepping away from his MMA career to venture into the movie industry. On Monday, Bader announced via Instagram that he will take a three-month hiatus and move to Vancouver to join the cast of the biopic “The Smashing Machine,” which stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The Rock, a WWE star turned actor, is set to portray former UFC tournament champion Mark Kerr. In preparation for the role, he has undertaken MMA training to authentically depict Kerr’s life and career. The film will highlight Kerr’s rise to prominence and his subsequent struggles.
Mark Kerr, an Ohio native, was a dominant figure in his prime. He won two UFC heavyweight tournament titles at UFC 14 and 15 in 1997, later competing in Japan’s PRIDE Fighting Championships against notable opponents such as Igor Vovchanchyn, Enson Inoue, and Kazuyuki Fujita. Kerr’s tumultuous career and personal battles were previously chronicled in HBO’s 2003 documentary “The Smashing Machine.”
While Bader, 40, has not specified his role or the extent of his on-screen presence in the film, his participation marks a significant crossover from MMA to acting. This move comes after his recent 21-second knockout loss to Renan Ferreira at PFL vs. Bellator: Champions in February. Bader has not yet detailed his plans for returning to MMA competition following his involvement in the project.
