Ryan Bader almost missed ‘The Smashing Machine’, his journey to acting, film’s authenticity: All you need to know

Ryan Bader, the former UFC and Bellator light heavyweight champion and respected MMA fighter, made his acting debut in the much-anticipated 2025 biographical sports drama The Smashing Machine, which chronicles the life of MMA pioneer Mark Kerr. Bader recently revealed that he almost missed out on landing the role of Kerr’s best friend and fellow fighter Mark Coleman—due to accidentally ignoring multiple text messages from the film’s director, Benny Safdie.

“He didn’t really say his full name, what he was doing and all that. He was just asking if we had time to have a little talk. I had no idea so I blew him off for like three weeks," he said.

In interviews around the film’s release, Bader shared the story of how the opportunity nearly slipped through his fingers because he didn't immediately respond to Safdie’s messages. Fortunately, the director’s persistence and Bader’s eventual responsiveness led to him being cast in a role that has garnered praise for both authenticity and emotional depth.

The Smashing Machine: A gritty MMA story

The Smashing Machine is based on the 2002 documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr and explores not only Kerr’s MMA career but also his battle with addiction and the harsh realities of the sport in its early days. Dwayne Johnson stars as Mark Kerr and underwent a striking physical transformation, gaining about 30 pounds and wearing prosthetics to emulate Kerr’s muscular build and distinctive look. The film also features Emily Blunt as Kerr’s wife Dawn Staples, with Ryan Bader supporting as Mark Coleman—a real-life UFC legend known as the “Hammer”.

Bader described working alongside Johnson and Blunt as a "fantastic" learning experience, noting how Johnson fully embraced his role, which helped ease Bader’s own acting nerves. Bader noted the collaborative atmosphere on set and the intense preparation that went into making the fight scenes look as realistic as possible. Despite his extensive MMA background, Bader had to relearn acting fight choreography from scratch, including rehearsing for two weeks with stunt coordinators and opponents to deliver the authentic gritty feel the film demanded.

Why watch The Smashing Machine?

What sets The Smashing Machine apart from typical sports dramas is its raw honesty. The film delves into Kerr’s vulnerabilities, including addiction struggles, mental health, and the physical toll of fighting. Bader’s portrayal of Coleman, Kerr’s loyal friend and training partner, grounds the film emotionally with moments where words fail, but deep bonds formed through combat resonate strongly. Critics have noted Bader’s intentionally understated delivery as an artistic choice that adds to the authenticity.

The film premiered to warm acclaim at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, winning the Silver Lion, and received a 15-minute standing ovation from audiences. It has been praised for its vérité style, mixing handheld camera work and long takes to immerse viewers directly in the brutal world of early MMA bouts.

Ryan Bader’s unexpected journey to acting

Bader admitted that at first, he was not sure if he was the right fit for an acting role, especially this demanding one. On top of the initial miscommunication where he ignored text messages from Benny Safdie, stepping into the shoes of a real MMA legend so soon after retiring from competition was intimidating.

However, the experience turned out to be a positive challenge, with Bader enjoying the mentorship from Johnson and Blunt, and learning to adapt his athletic skills to movie fight choreography. He hopes the film will resonate not only with MMA fans but also with viewers who understand personal struggles and redemption narratives, as Mark Kerr himself has been sober for over seven years after battles with addiction.