The Smashing Machine stars Dwayne Johnson as MMA legend Mark Kerr and Emily Blunt as Dawn Staples. The movie covers Kerr’s rise in MMA, his battle with addiction, and the ups and downs of his relationship with Staples. It’s set to release on October 3, 2025, and fans are eager to know where Kerr and Staples are now.

Where is Dwayne Johnson’s Mark Kerr from The Smashing Machine now?

Mark Kerr was born on December 21, 1968, in Toledo, Ohio. He started in wrestling but switched to MMA in 1997, debuting against UFC fighter Paul Varelans. Kerr became a top name in the world of MMA, becoming a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, and fought in PRIDE FC, earning the moniker “The Smashing Machine” for his fighting style.

In 2009, Kerr retired from MMA and started working for a Toyota dealership till 2015. In 2019, Kerr revealed he had been suffering from peripheral neuropathy since 2016. He created a GoFundMe to pay for his treatments.

Lately, he’s been involved in the promotion of The Smashing Machine, which is getting huge Oscar buzz. It is inspired by the 2002 HBO documentary about Kerr. The original documentary also follows Kerr’s journey to becoming a top MMA fighter while struggling with addiction.

Where is Emily Blunt’s Dawn Staples from The Smashing Machine now?

Dawn Staples studied at Phoenix College, was a model, and later became a real estate investor. Mark Kerr’s risky fighting career put a strain on their marriage, which ended in 2015. Today, Staples works as an interior decorator and owns Final Touches by Design, a studio based in Phoenix.

The Smashing Machine explores Kerr’s relationship with Staples, a former Playboy model whom he married in 2000. Furthermore, they share a son, Bryce, who played football in high school.