Mark Kerr, famously known as “The Smashing Machine,” is a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) legend. His incredible journey is now brought to life in a movie starring Dwayne Johnson. This film, directed by Benny Safdie, delves into Kerr’s life and illustrious career.
Table of Contents
What happened to Mark Kerr?
Mark Kerr, known as “The Smashing Machine,” struggled with painkiller addiction throughout his MMA career. He began using painkillers and eventually resorted to injecting black-market opiates. In 1999, Kerr overdosed on methadone and Valium, leading to hospitalization. He admitted that mixing prescription narcotics with alcohol led to a “sloppy existence” and a constant internal battle.
Kerr’s addiction also strained his relationship with his girlfriend, Dawn Staples, who later became his wife. Despite attempts at rehabilitation, his addiction worsened. Staples alleged that the situation escalated to the point where she had to use Kerr’s gun to end an argument.
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Early Life
Mark Kerr was born on December 21, 1968, in Toledo, Ohio, to Tom and Mary Kerr. His father was of Irish descent, while his mother was Puerto Rican. From a young age, Kerr dreamt of joining the World Wrestling Federation and often engaged in mock fights with his younger siblings in their backyard.
In 1983, Kerr began his wrestling career as a freshman at Bettendorf High School in Bettendorf, Iowa. He shared the wrestling room with future MMA champion Pat Miletich, who was a senior at the time. After his freshman year, Kerr’s family moved back to Toledo, Ohio
Kerr’s Career
Mark Kerr had a distinguished college wrestling career at Syracuse University, becoming a Division I champion and All-American in 1992, defeating Randy Couture. He was a three-time EIWA champion, won the Fletcher Award twice, and placed second at the 1992 World Cup. After winning the USA World Team Trials in 1993 and 1994 and securing gold at the 1994 World Cup, he shifted focus to MMA in 1996.
Kerr debuted in MMA at the World Vale Tudo Championship 3 in 1997, winning the tournament, and later won the heavyweight tournaments at UFC 14 and UFC 15. He moved to Pride Fighting Championships, where he had notable victories but struggled with losses and injuries. In submission wrestling, Kerr won the +99 kg division at the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships in 1999 and 2000, and the absolute division in 2000, earning him a place in the ADCC Hall of Fame in 2022. Despite early success, Kerr’s performance declined, leading to his eventual retirement.
The Smashing Machine
In 2002, HBO aired “The Smashing Machine,” a documentary by John Hyams about Mark Kerr’s life and career, focusing on his painkiller addiction and early MMA competitions. The film features Kerr’s then-girlfriend, Dawn Staples, and MMA fighters Bas Rutten, Kevin Randleman, and Mark Coleman. Rutten mentions that Pride tournament directors limited Kerr’s techniques to prolong fights for TV and audience enjoyment.
On December 13, 2023, A24 announced a biopic of Kerr, titled “The Smashing Machine,” with Dwayne Johnson starring as Kerr and Benny Safdie directing.
After Retirement
After retiring from fighting, Mark Kerr faced new challenges. He pursued further education and worked in various fields, including car sales. Since 2016, he has battled peripheral neuropathy, openly sharing his health struggles on a GoFundMe page. Despite these difficulties, Kerr’s influence remains significant.
About Mark Kerr’s Ex-Wife
Three years into his MMA career, Mark Kerr married former Playboy model Dawn Staples on May 11, 2000. Staples, who studied at Phoenix College, transitioned from modeling to real estate investing and now works as an interior decorator. In August 2022, she became the owner of Final Touches by Design in Phoenix, Arizona, offering services such as color consulting and space planning.
Kerr and Staples have a college-aged son named Bryce, who played high school football. Although the date of their separation is unknown, Kerr has since remarried fitness consultant Franci Alberding.
Championships and Accomplishments
Mark Kerr’s championships and accomplishments span collegiate wrestling, freestyle wrestling, mixed martial arts, and submission wrestling. In collegiate wrestling, he was the NCAA Division I Champion in 1992 and a three-time EIWA Champion, also winning the Fletcher Award in 1991 and 1992. In freestyle wrestling, he earned medals at the World Cup (silver in 1992, gold in 1994) and the Pan American Games (silver in 1995), along with victories in the 1993 and 1994 World Team Trials and the 1994 Senior Freestyle Championship.
In MMA, Kerr won the UFC 14 and UFC 15 Heavyweight Tournaments and the WVC 3 Heavyweight Tournament. In submission wrestling, he was an ADCC World Champion in 1999 and 2000 (both +99 kg and Absolute) and a Superfight Champion, and he was inducted into the ADCC Hall of Fame in 2022.
Conclusion
Kerr’s life is a rich tapestry of achievements, growth, influence, relationships, and resilience. The enduring impact of Kerr’s contributions serves as a beacon for future generations, exemplifying the profound effect one individual can have on the world.
