#FIRSTLOOK: DWAYNE JOHNSON AND EMILY BLUNT AT UFC HALL OF FAME INDUCTION FOR MARK KERR

THE SMASHING MACHINE cast members Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt attended the UFC Hall of Fame Induction of combat sport legend Mark Kerr, who Johnson depicts in the film. Blunt portrays Dawn Staples-Kerr, Mark’s first wife. Johnson presented Kerr with the trophy in honor of his induction as the 21st member of the Pioneer Era Wing of the Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place on Thursday, June 26, 2025 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Other 2025 inductees into the UFC Hall of Fame include Craig Piligian (Emmy Award-winning producer), Israel Adesanya (Former Middleweight Champion), Robbie Lawler (Former Middleweight Champion), Kelvin Gastelum (Former Interim Title Challenger), Amanda Nunes (Former 2-Division Champion), and Vitor Belfort (Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and UFC 12 Heavyweight Tournament Winner).
ABOUT MARK KERR:
Mark Kerr, a former NCAA wrestling champion and ADCC Hall of Famer, rose to prominence in MMA by winning back-to-back UFC heavyweight tournaments in 1997. Nicknamed “The Smashing Machine” for his dominant style, Kerr fought in both UFC and PRIDE, earning victories over top-tier opponents during a 12-year career.

ABOUT UFC:
UFC is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 300 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to over 950 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 70 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

ABOUT THE SMASHING MACHINE:
From filmmaker Benny Safdie and starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, THE SMASHING MACHINE is the story of legendary mixed martial arts & UFC fighter Mark Kerr.

#FIRSTLOOK: “TAKEDOWN: THE DNA OF GSP” GETS LIMITED THEATRICAL RELEASE

UFC Fans can celebrate knowing that TAKEDOWN: THE DNA OF GSP is about to hit theatres!  The Documentary, released by Remstar Films, promises to give Fans intimate access to perhaps the great Mixed Martial Artist ever!

Official Synopsis:

TAKEDOWN: THE DNA OF GSP is a feature-length documentary about Georges St-Pierre (aka GSP), reigning UFC Welterweight Champion, and arguably the greatest Mixed Martial Artist of all time. This gentle Warrior grew up in St-Isidore, Quebec. Bullied at school, he learned karate to defend himself and never looked back. He rocketed to the world championship at age 26, only to lose it in his first title defense. GSP fought back and regained his Title, but then suffered a potential career-ending knee injury. He clawed his way back again in an epic battle against Carlos Condit. From there, he defeated his long-time Rival Nick Diaz, the baddest boy in the UFC, whose psychological war of nerves almost got GSP. But like a great champion GSP, handled it all. The Film transforms the violence of ultimate fighting into visual poetry, and uses innovative techniques to convey GSP’s internal state of mind. His admiration for the Darwinian force of nature is conveyed in the Film using the motif of following a lone wolf. Powerful animated sequences also reflect the enormous influence of Eastern philosophy on GSP, a Man who is a true Athlete, and a Master strategist who loves his Sport.

 

Watch the Trailer below:

Canadians will get a chance to see TAKEDOWN: THE DNA OF GSP in its limited theatrical run, showing February 20 (7:30 PM), February 22 (4 PM) and February 24, 2014 (7:30 PM).

Presales Nationwide are on now. More on which Theatres will be showing the Documentary here.

(Photo/video credit: Remstar Films)

#SPOTTED: TITO ORTIZ IN TORONTO

It’s honestly luck! This morning while visiting CTV Studios in Scarborough in the lobby, I ran into none other than UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and Hall of Famer, Tito Ortiz!  He was amazingly nice and navigated my Camera to snap this Selfie better than I ever could have!

Ortiz just landed in Toronto and will be here through Saturday for a series of appearances across the Greater Toronto Area and you too can meet him. The Mixed Martial Arts Icon will be signing Autographs and there also will be Photo Ops for Fans all he way from Whitby to St. Catharines! His stay will be capped-off by an appearance at Muzik Night Club Saturday night.

See our Snap below:

For more information, look below:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Inner Circle Agency/Punishment Athletics)