The long-awaited Mark Kerr biopic The Smashing Machine is already making waves.
Directed by Benny Safdie and starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, is being called by the early critics a career-defining performance for Johnson, who portrays the troubled rise and fall of one of MMA’s early heavyweights.
Kerr, a two-time UFC tournament champion and PRIDE veteran, became the subject of the acclaimed 2002 HBO documentary that chronicled both his dominance and personal struggles.
Safdie’s adaptation dives deep into that story, with Emily Blunt playing Kerr’s partner, while real combat sports stars add authenticity to the fight sequences.
Ryan Bader portrays Mark Coleman, Bas Rutten and Satoshi Ishii make appearances, and Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu steps in as Fabio Gurgel.
For Cyborg, the experience was surreal, as he revealed in a recent interview:
From the tatami to the film sets – what a journey!
One day you’re traveling through Brazil, and out of nowhere you get a message on Instagram…
The invitation to make a movie with The Rock.It was an honor.
Cyborg described the set as a new kind of challenge:
It seemed like I was a white belt again. Cameras, audience, pressure…
Pure adrenaline, my friends!
As for working with The Rock, Cyborg couldn’t say enough:
He’s extremely attentive, really good people, and charismatic.
It’s always inspiring to see how someone like him got where he is.Yes, my friends, I took a knead on the big screen!
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