The bright lights of Los Angeles met the grit of MMA history as Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s highly anticipated project, ‘The Smashing Machine,’ held its LA premiere this week. Fighters, fans, and Hollywood names turned out in force for a night that blurred the line between cinema and combat sports. Among them was former Bellator champion Ryan Bader, who not only appeared in the film but also had another reason to celebrate. His wife Daisy’s birthday coincided with the red-carpet event, making the night even more memorable. From cast reunions to heartfelt messages, the celebration carried both personal and professional weight!

Bader captured the moment on Instagram, posting pictures from the evening that even included Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson in the background. His caption summed it up with, “LA premier of @thesmashingmachinemovie with the lovely @daisybader (who’s birthday is today) great to catch up with the cast and all the homies. Off to Vegas and NYC!”

“Proud of you” – Dwayne Johnson lauds Ryan Bader for portrayal of Mark Coleman

The message reflected both pride and gratitude, showing how much the night meant to him, and it sparked immediate reactions across the MMA world. UFC’s Brian Ortega chimed in with a couple of clapping emojis, while UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman — the man Bader portrays in the movie — added, “Awesome”!

Then came the most striking response of all. Dwayne Johnson himself commented, “You’re the man brother. Proud of you and the work you did in our film. Incredible job!! Brotherly bond.” Coming from Johnson, who carries the film as its lead, those words held weight. And it’s a fitting recognition for Bader, who stepped into Coleman’s shoes for the project.

While Johnson and Emily Blunt carry the emotional center of the story, portraying Mark Kerr and his then-wife Dawn Staples, Bader’s role is far from minor. Coleman’s friendship with Kerr was pivotal, and showing that bond on screen meant portraying more than just the fighter. By all accounts, Bader handled the task with the same commitment that defined his championship career.

As such, it’s no surprise Dwayne Johnson would go out of his way to salute Bader. The film is his own leap into new territory, shedding the blockbuster persona to embody a complicated figure in MMA history. His portrayal of Kerr has already been called the best work of his career. Gone are the quips and explosions, and what better way to bring authenticity than by surrounding himself with real fighters like Bader, Bas Rutten, and even Oleksandr Usyk in supporting roles?

For those who only know Kerr by name, The Smashing Machine serves as a crash course in both triumph and tragedy. In the late 90s, Kerr stormed through UFC tournaments before making waves in Japan’s PRIDE, where the competition was merciless. The film zeroes in on that period, his legendary clash with Igor Vovchanchyn, his battles in the heavyweight Grand Prix, but more importantly, it shines a light on his struggles outside the cage.

It’s this blend of authentic MMA storytelling with heavyweight acting talent that has many predicting awards season buzz, after all, Dwayne Johnson pulled out all the stops for this role, including taking an actual hit from a professional fighter!

‘The Rock’ reveals how Bas Rutten got him punched for real while filming The Smashing Machine

The Rock didn’t just act like Mark Kerr; he lived it! While filming a scene that recreated Kerr’s brutal 2000 PRIDE Grand Prix final against Kazuyuki Fujita, Johnson absorbed a legitimate punch from his opponent. No camera tricks. No pulled shots. Just a clean hit!

Speaking in an interview with CBS Sports, Johnson confessed, “It felt like when you get rocked by a real fighter multiple times, there’s a moment in the trailer where I’m on my knees in the ring and I look up dazed. That’s real. I got my bell rung.”

So why did Johnson put himself through it? According to him, director Benny Safdie wanted the fights to feel raw. “He told me he’d love to never cut away,” Johnson explained. That meant the Hollywood star had to get physical, even with two trained stuntmen on standby. For one pivotal close-up, there was no room for fakery.

Convincing his scene partner wasn’t easy, though. “I said, ‘Hey brother, you’re pulling the punches. You need to lay it in and hit me,’” Johnson recalled. At first, the fighter refused. He respected Johnson too much to land a real shot. It took Safdie stepping in and a legendary interjection from Bas Rutten to change things.

According to Johnson, “Bas was listening to the whole thing and said, ‘Just hit him! He’s just The Rock! Hit him! He hit me so hard!’ That’s what you see in the movie. Not only is he hitting me, but I realized watching back that he’s coming down. That was a punch! Dude!”

As such, the LA premiere of The Smashing Machine wasn’t just about red carpets or Hollywood glitz. It was about respect. Ryan Bader celebrated his wife, reconnected with fellow fighters, and earned praise from one of the biggest names in entertainment. And Dwayne Johnson? He showed that he wasn’t afraid to trade comfort for authenticity, even if it meant taking a real punch!