Vin Diesel recently celebrated Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s work in The Smashing Machine and reflected on his close relationship with former MMA and UFC athlete Mark Kerr. He said that Kerr is “deserving of this moment,” adding Johnson’s portrayal took him “back in time.”
Vin Diesel shares high praises for Mark Kerr and Dwayne Johnson
On November 25, 2025, the Furious 7 star spoke about his personal relationship with Mark Kerr, as well as his thoughts on Dwayne Johnson’s performance in The Smashing Machine, which is based on Kerr’s life.
Diesel wrote on Instagram: “What most people don’t realize is that Mark Kerr was one of the first friends I made when I moved from New York to California.”
He continued, “We hit it off immediately, and the reason is simple: he is genuinely one of the kindest, most warm-hearted people you will ever meet. He actually trained me for the first XXX. So, in a beautiful way, he was there at the beginning of my action career. That’s the kind of friend he’s been from day one.”
The Last Witch Hunter star then shifted to Johnson. He recalled how a fan comment inspired the idea of bringing The Rock into The Fast and the Furious. The actor described his and Johnson’s on-screen dynamic as “two strong personalities who pushed each other and created something unforgettable.” He added, “When he stepped into Hobbs, he did it with full commitment and left an indelible mark on Universal’s character hall of fame.”
Vin Diesel then circled back to Kerr, celebrating his UFC achievements. “Watching Mark Kerr get inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame because his story was finally told was such a proud moment,” he wrote.
The actor concluded, “Mark Kerr is so deserving of this moment… and Dwayne really did it… He brought us back in time and shined doing it. Proud of you both.”
Directed by Benny Safdie, The Smashing Machine is a biographical sports drama about MMA and UFC legend Mark Kerr. It features Dwayne Johnson in the lead and Emily Blunt as his girlfriend, Dawn Staples.
Originally reported by Harsha Panduranga on Comingsoon.
