The Rock begins MMA training as the Hollywood A-lister hits pads and grapples in the gym during ‘humbling, intense’ workouts… but why has the WWE legend started sparring at 52 years old?
- The Rock shared footage of the ‘humiliating’ and ‘intense’ start to his MMA training
- The 52-year-old practiced takedowns, wrestling and kicked pads in the short clip
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has shared footage of himself training in mixed martial arts on social media.
In a series of clips posted to his 397 million Instagram followers, the 52-year-old is seen hitting the pads, practicing takedowns and working on his ground-and-pound in a ring.
The Rock recently enjoyed a successful return to professional wrestling, competing in a tag-team match alongside Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40.
His age-defying performances in the WWE ring led to fans calling for a longer-term return to the squared circle.
However, the return was always going to end after the showcase event at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia so he could get started with his current training regimen.
The Rock shared clips on social media of himself beginning his training in mixed martial arts
The Hollywood star will play former UFC fighter Mark Kerr in a biopic about his career
The 52-year-old recently returned for a brief run in WWE, culminating at WrestleMania 40
Nearly five years have passed since Johnson announced that his production company Seven Bucks Productions would produce a film about former UFC tournament champion Mark Kerr, titled The Smashing Machine, in which he would star.
Work on the film has since begun, with The Rock undergoing an intense physical training regime to help him transform into the best Kerr.
Writing on social media, the 52-year-old described the “humbling” process of learning MMA, and shared clips of himself practicing takedowns and ground-and-pound.
âDay 1. MMA training camp,â he wrote on Instagram.
‘Preparing for ‘Smashing Machine’ I am learning daily and it has been a very humbling, intense and motivating journey into this world of fighting and becoming, Mark Kerr – the two-time Heavyweight Tournament Champion, World Vale Tudo Champion.
âI’m a hard worker, but I realized that in this role I would have to work harder than anything I’ve ever worked for in my life.
âThis physicality is just part of the bigger journey, which is truly a team effort. Growing and grateful.’
One of the first decorated collegiate wrestlers to enter MMA, Kerr entered the sport at a time when the ruleset we recognize today was still evolving.
While he fought his early matches bare-knuckle with few rules to protect the fighters, Kerr’s muscular frame and dominant wrestling skills made him a star of the sport’s early days.
Kerr, pictured here with fellow MMA pioneer Mark Coleman, won two one-night UFC tournaments during the early days of mixed martial arts
The former collegiate wrestler’s tumultuous career was chronicled in a documentary titled The Smashing Machine
Kerr won two one-night tournaments in the UFC before moving to Japanese promotion Pride Fighting Championships in 1998.
Chronicled in an infamous documentary, also titled The Smashing Machine, personal problems outside the ring, combined with poor performance in competition, saw Kerr spiral into losing five fights in a row in the early years of the millennium.
Now 55, Kerr retired from MMA in 2009 with a record of 15 wins and 11 losses.