The Rock Earns Respect from MMA Vet Ahead of Smashing Machine Release

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is going all in for his next role—and he’s earning legit respect from the MMA world while doing it.

As The Smashing Machine gears up for a Q3 2025 release, the WWE legend has been putting in serious work to portray real-life fighter Mark Kerr, whose career was marked by dominance inside the cage and battles with addiction outside of it. And now, former UFC and Bellator champion Ryan Bader is vouching for The Rock’s fighting chops.

Speaking with Submission Radio, Bader—who plays MMA icon Mark Coleman in the film—praised The Rock’s transformation and effort behind the scenes. “Yeah, he [The Rock] looked good,” Bader said. “I’m not going to say he looked like a guy who’s been fighting for 20 years, but he obviously works hard.”

That wasn’t just a compliment for show. Bader revealed that The Rock “participated in a training camp with real MMA fighters to refine his skill set,” and that the footage from those sessions speaks for itself. “I’ve seen a little bit of the playbacks, and they look good,” Bader added. “He worked super, super hard and was actually in great shape, like he always is. Big old dude.”

The Rock has been documenting some of that journey on social media, showing off intense training and sparring sessions—proving he’s not just acting the part, but living it.

The Smashing Machine is stacking its roster with real combat sports talent too. Boxing superstar Oleksandr Usyk appears in the film as Kerr’s in-ring rival, and with names like Bader involved, this isn’t your average Hollywood fight movie.

So, can The Rock hang in a fight gym? According to Bader—who’s been in the cage with killers like Jon Jones, Fedor Emelianenko, and Glover Teixeira—the answer is yes.

Think The Rock could actually hold his own in a real MMA fight? Or should he stick to the big screen? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know what you think of his transformation.

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