MARK Kerr is a former mixed martial artist and collegiate wrestler known for his achievements in MMA and grappling.
A biopic about his life starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson called The Smashing Machine hits cinemas on October 3, 2025 — here we look at his career and what he’s up to now.
Mark Kerr is a two-time UFC champion[/caption]
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson plays Mark in movie The Smashing Machine[/caption]
Who is Mark Kerr?
Mark Kerr, born on December 21, 1968, is a former wrestler and mixed martial artist.
He was a successful college wrestler, becoming NCAA Division I champion.
Mark enjoyed great success in submission wrestling, where he won the ADCC World Championship four times.
Over the span of his career, he went on to become a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion and also competed in PRIDE FC.
He was given the nickname “The Smashing Machine” due to his unique fighting style.
His career attracted attention not only for his fighting ability, but also for his struggles with substance abuse, which were documented in the 2002 HBO film The Smashing Machine.
His life was also turned into a 2025 biopic titled The Smashing Machine produced by A24 and starring Dwayne Johnson.
After his fighting career, Mark started working in a car dealership.
In 2015, he told Sports Illustrated: “Sometimes I hate the job because, the story I have in my head, some of the customers that come in to talk to me have no clue what I used to do for a living.”
In 2019, it was revealed Mark had been suffering from peripheral neuropathy since 2016.
He even created a GoFundMe to pay for his treatments.
What was Mark Kerr’s MMA record?
Mark Kerr fought 27 professional MMA matches, achieving 15 wins, 11 losses and one no-contest.
Of those wins, four were by knockout, seven by submission and two by decision.
He competed at heavyweight and won two UFC Heavyweight Tournaments.
When did Mark Kerr stop fighting?
Mark Kerr’s last recorded professional MMA fight took place in August 2009.
He lost to Muhammed Lawal by TKO.
Over the following years, he had occasional fights, but his active professional MMA career ended in 2009.
What does Mark Kerr do now?
Today, Mark Kerr is represented by Innovative Artists, an agency that focuses on expanding his career in new directions.
These include acting, endorsements, licensing, speaking engagements and merchandise.
He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025 on June 26, 2025.
Mark was honored for his contributions to the sport, particularly his wins in the UFC 14 and UFC 15 heavyweight tournaments.
UFC President and CEO Dana White noted that he was not only a top-level competitor, but also an early pioneer of the sport.
