Filming for The Smashing Machine will begin later this year and is set for release in 2025Credit: Instagram @therock

He’s portraying an MMA fighter in his upcoming movie, ‘The Smashing Machine’, so naturally he needs to appear convincing in the role.

And the video uploaded on his Instagram account firmly suggests The Rock will do fighter Mark Kerr justice.

The Rock captioned the social media post: “MMA training camp. Preparing for ‘Smashing Machine’

“I’m learning daily and it’s been a very humbling, intense and motivating journey into this world of combat and becoming,Mark Kerr – the two-time @UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, World Vale Tudo Champion.

“I’m a hard worker, but I realized that I’d have to work harder with this role than anything I’ve ever worked for in my life.

“This physicality is just one part of the larger journey, that is truly a team effort.

“Growing and grateful.”

Kerr earned ‘The Smashing Machine’ nickname while competing during the UFC’s early days when fighters were required to fight two times in one night.

He scored four first-round stoppage wins – his longest fight lasting just 133 seconds at UFC 14 and UFC 15 in 1997.

Kerr famously scored four first-round stoppage wins – with his longest fight lasting just 133 seconds – at UFC 14 and UFC 15 in 1997.

The 55-year-old struggled with an addiction to painkillers and has openly talked about how it impacted his career since retiring from MMA.

The two-time UFC champion was the subject of a 2002 HBO documentary called The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr.

Kerr is an MMA pioneer and The Rock wants to do him justice

Kerr has since turned his life around, however, The Rock’s film will focus on his struggle with addiction, winning, love and friendship in the year 2000.

The film is directed by Benny Safdie and will star English actress Emily Blunt.

Filming will begin later this year with UFC fans able to watch The Rock’s new film in 2025.