FORMER mixed martial artist Mark Kerr built a strong reputation within the sport, landing him the no-nonsense nickname The Smashing Machine.
At the height of his career, he met his now ex-wife Dawn Staples, who features in the eponymous Hollywood blockbuster about Mark’s life — here’s everything you need to know about her.
Mark won the heavyweight title at UFC 14, Alabama in 1997[/caption]
Who is Mark Kerr?
Mark Kerr is a former mixed martial artist born on December 21, 1968, in Toledo, Ohio.
Kerr had a brief wrestling career before focusing on MMA which began in 1997.
The Ohio native made his MMA debut at the World Vale Tudo Championship against UFC’s Paul Varelans.
Over the span of his career, Kerr became a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion and competed in PRIDE FC.
Kerr received the nickname “The Smashing Machine” due to his unique fighting style.
In 2002, HBO released a documentary on the MMA star’s life as he rose to become an iconic MMA fighter while battling addiction.
Kerr continued his MMA career until 2009 when he retired from the sport.
In 2019, it was revealed Kerr had been suffering from peripheral neuropathy since 2016. The MMA star created a GoFundMe to pay for his treatments.
Who is Mark Kerr’s ex-wife, Dawn Staples?
Three years after Kerr started his MMA career, he married former Playboy model Dawn Staples on May 11, 2000.
Staples studied at Phoenix College, and following her modeling career, Staples went on to work as a real estate investor.
Now, Staples works as an interior decorator. In August 2022, Staples became the owner of Final Touches by Design.
The studio is based in Phoenix, Arizona, and offers an array of interior design jobs such as color consulting and space planning.
Additionally, Kerr and Staples share a college-aged son named Bryce who played football in high school.
While the date of Kerr and Staples’ separation is unknown, Kerr has since re-married fitness consulter Franci Alberding.
What is the movie The Smashing Machine about?
In December 2023, news broke that A24 would be releasing a movie on Mark titled The Smashing Machine.
Mark Kerr is an MMA legend[/caption]
The film follows Mark Kerr’s successful career, with the official synopsis reading: “The Smashing Machine is a drama based on the story of Mark Kerr, the legendary MMA fighter from the no-holds-barred era of the UFC at the peak of his career.
“He struggles with addiction, winning, love and friendship in the year 2000.”
Written and directed by Benny Safdie and starring Dwayne Johnson as UFC champion Mark Kerr, the film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2025.
Emily Blunt plays Dawn Staples, the long-suffering girlfriend and former wife of the fearsome fighter.
The Smashing Machine opens in US and UK cinemas on October 3, 2025.
In a statement released by A24’s Noah Sacco, writer/director Benny said: “Dwayne and Benny are singular talents, and their shared vision for Mark’s inspiring story is electrifying.
“We are deeply honored to have their trust as collaborators in bringing this incredibly special project to life.”
Additionally, A24 noted that Johnson’s role as Kerr will be “his most dramatic project and role yet.”
