Dana White Thinks Dwayne Johnson Deserves Oscar Award for MMA Biopic 

UFC CEO Dana White credits Dwayne Johnson for his acclaimed acting performance in The Smashing Machine biopic. 

Dana White Thinks Dwayne Johnson Deserves Oscar Award for MMA Biopic 

Dana White believes Dwayne Johnson should win an Oscar (via X)

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Dwayne Johnson, WWE superstar turned Hollywood actor, recently shocked the world with his latest film, The Smashing Machine. The acclaimed film is a gripping biopic of MMA veteran Mark Kerr, where Johnson undergoes a massive transformation to portray him. Since the trailer was released, it has received unanimous praise from fans, critics, and UFC CEO Dana White himself.

Johnson worked directly with Kerr, learning about his mindset, struggles, and personal challenges to portray the legendary fighter authentically. Mark Kerr began his MMA career in the 1990s, and quickly establishing himself as a dominant heavyweight with exceptional wrestling skills. 

Kerr won multiple tournaments, including UFC and Pride events, earning respect as one of MMA’s most accomplished and feared competitors. White, who doesn’t necessarily like martial arts films, recently got an opportunity to see Johnson’s movie and shared his opinion. 

So, The Rock flew out to Vegas and showed it to me first, and it’s unbelievable. There’s a scene in there with (Johnson) and Emily Blunt, and I think they should both win an Oscar based off this one scene. The movie is incredible, I’m happy for him. He’s finally gonna get the credit for his acting skills.

Dana White via Access Hollywood 

The UFC supported production by providing resources, archival footage, and fighters to ensure authenticity in the movie’s fighting sequences. It wasn’t the first time the UFC collaborated with Hollywood, previously featuring in Conor McGregor’s debut movie, Road House. The UFC scenes were filmed inside the Octagon during an actual event, capturing real crowd energy and authentic action.

Directed by Benny Safdie, The Smashing Machine also stars Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk alongside Johnson. The movie premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 1, earning a fifteen-minute standing ovation immediately.

It was awarded the Silver Lion, recognizing its artistic achievement and powerful storytelling, highlighting Dwayne Johnson’s extraordinary transformation and performance. Critics described Johnson’s portrayal as career-changing, praising his willingness to embrace raw vulnerability and diverge from his traditional larger-than-life roles.

The movie has been called brutal, honest, and unforgettable, noted for refusing to sensationalize addiction and strong chemistry between The Rock and Emily Blunt. With WWE superstars like John Cena and Dave Bautista doing more character-driven roles, this was Johnson’s opportunity to do something similar. 

Dwayne Johnson hilariously talks about his potential MMA career 

Dwayne Johnson, famously known as The Rock, built a legendary career as a WWE superstar, winning multiple championships worldwide. He became a cultural icon, blending charisma and mic skills, transcending wrestling to achieve global recognition beyond sports entertainment. Johnson has always been a passionate UFC fan, attending numerous events and showing admiration for fighters. 

Dwayne Johnson with Jorge Masvidal
Dwayne Johnson with Jorge Masvidal (via X)

One of his most iconic appearances was during the BMF belt fight between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. Following Masvidal’s victory via doctor stoppage, Johnson wrapped the BMF championship belt around ‘Gamebred,’ celebrating the historic moment. A few months ago, in the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony, Dwayne Johnson joked about his UFC career and how it would have been disastrous. 

Love the sport of MMA, you guys know. And the respect I have, coming out here with my theme song, like (expletive) Well, I don’t know about that. Give it a shot, headline will read, ‘Tom Aspinall knocks out The Rock in 8 seconds!‘

Dwayne Johnson via UFC Hall of Fame ceremony 

Tom Aspinall is widely recognized for his incredible knockout power, consistently delivering highlight-reel finishes that leave many heavyweights stunned. As such, The Rock chose to remain humble and credit the high-level fighters for what they can do, something that an average person cannot.

Dwayne Johnson has deep ties to the MMA community as well. After all, he gifted Themba Gorimbo a house after learning he only had seven dollars. It will be fascinating to observe how the MMA audience reacts to and embraces Johnson’s latest film, which celebrates MMA authenticity.

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