UFC icon defends Dwayne Johnson after The Smashing Machine flops at the box office

UFC Icon Defends Dwayne Johnson After The Smashing Machine Flops at the Box Office

Dwayne Johnson took a bold step by transforming into UFC legend Mark Kerr in the film The Smashing Machine. Unlike his usual blockbuster roles, Johnson portrayed a raw and honest story of addiction, redemption, and physical sacrifice.

Despite critical praise and early Oscar buzz, the film did not perform well commercially, which disappointed UFC veteran Bruce Buffer.

Bruce Buffer's Reaction

On his podcast with TJ De Santis and Ray Longo, Buffer expressed admiration for Johnson’s performance but lamented the film’s poor box-office results.

"It was a tour de force for The Rock and Emily Blunt. They did a fantastic job with what they were given," Buffer said. "For the benefit of Mark Kerr, I was hoping it'd be a huge hit because I'd hope Mark had a piece of the action."

Behind the Film

Directed by Benny Safdie and produced by A24, The Smashing Machine removes the usual Hollywood gloss from Johnson's career, presenting the gritty reality of a man battling inner demons alongside his opponents.

Johnson dedicated extensive time to the role, reportedly spending up to four hours daily in prosthetics to authentically capture Kerr’s physical and emotional transformation, according to MMA Fighting.

Summary

Dwayne Johnson’s daring portrayal of Mark Kerr in a raw, unpolished drama earned critical acclaim but failed at the box office, drawing disappointment even from longtime UFC supporter Bruce Buffer.

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MARCA — 2025-11-06