Mark Kerr UFC Hall of Fame & Dwayne Johnson Induction
- Mixed martial arts legend Mark Kerr, known as "The Smashing Machine," will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
- Kerr, a two-time UFC heavyweight tournament champion, enters the Hall of Fame as a Pioneer Era inductee.
- UFC President Dana White lauded Kerr as a dominant wrestler and pioneer in the sport, noting his impact in both UFC and PRIDE.
Mark Kerr joins UFC Hall of Fame
Updated June 8, 2025
Mixed martial arts legend Mark Kerr, known as “The Smashing Machine,” will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. The announcement was made Saturday at UFC 316 in Newark, N.J.
Kerr, a two-time UFC heavyweight tournament champion, enters the Hall of Fame as a Pioneer Era inductee. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who will portray Kerr in the upcoming film “The smashing Machine,” is scheduled to perform the induction honors June 26.
UFC President Dana White lauded Kerr as a dominant wrestler and pioneer in the sport, noting his impact in both UFC and PRIDE.
Before his MMA career, Kerr excelled in collegiate wrestling, winning the NCAA Division I title for Syracuse in 1992. After missing the 1996 Olympics, he transitioned to MMA, debuting in 1997 at the World Vale Tudo Championships before joining the UFC.
Kerr secured two UFC heavyweight tournament wins in 1997, finishing all four opponents. He stands among Royce Gracie, Mark Coleman, Dan Severn and Don Frye as the only fighters with multiple UFC tournament victories.
kerr’s MMA career spanned across multiple organizations, including PRIDE. He retired in 2009 with a 15-11 record.
What’s next
The induction ceremony is scheduled for June 26. Fans can also anticipate the premiere of “The Smashing Machine” movie,starring dwayne Johnson as Mark Kerr,on Oct. 3.