Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson playing ex-UFC champion Mark Kerr in the film Smashing Machine has already sparked massive buzz! Fans are praising the former wrestler-turned-actor for his performance, and as time passes, the film is catching more and more eyes. With that momentum, Johnson might even be eyeing a huge award.

The 98th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, honoring films made in 2025. And after ‘The Rock’ delivered such an impeccable performance as the UFC Hall of Famer, MMA fans are rallying behind him—hoping he can finally bring home an Oscar. But it’s not just the fans! Even a UFC legend has now made his thoughts known. 

Mark Coleman supports Dwayne Johnson’s Oscar ambitions for the Smashing Machine   

In an Instagram post tied to the film’s IMAX release in the U.S., ‘The Rock’ shared a picture with the caption: “See the first ever film shot on 16mm for IMAX, THE SMASHING MACHINE, SEPTEMBER 22 in these 11 CITIES across the U.S.” He also included a full list of when and where fans could catch the movie in its purest form. But the real buzz came in the comments section, where UFC legend Mark Coleman wrote: “A must see! @therock was incredible—he will win the big award.

That’s definitely a huge push from the former and first-ever UFC heavyweight champion for a film that dives deep into the life of an MMA fighter. And Coleman has his own personal connection here. He and Mark Kerr once clashed in an NCAA amateur wrestling match, where Coleman defeated Kerr in the first round. While they never fought each other professionally in MMA, that history naturally adds intrigue to Coleman’s support for the film.

On top of that, Dwayne Johnson’s sheer dedication to making this project authentic can’t be ignored. Known for his massive physique, he had to shed a tremendous amount of size just to embody a character that means so much to MMA fans who know Mark Kerr’s story. In fact, this physical transformation even seems to be part of the reason why his WWE return has been in doubt against some top stars. 

‘The Rock’s size might cause him to match up with Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns    

Johnson, aside from being one of the most recognized actors in the world, is also a legendary pro wrestling figure. He was the face of WWE for years and built iconic rivalries with John Cena, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Triple H. So, it’s never a stretch to say that whenever ‘The Rock’ steps inside the ring, it turns into an electrifying night. But now, two stellar WWE matchups might actually be in jeopardy because of his physical transformation.

Fans have noticed that Dwayne Johnson looks considerably smaller for his role in The Smashing Machine, after shedding a significant amount of muscle mass to embody Mark Kerr. That slimmer frame could make him look less imposing against current WWE megastars like Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns. On top of that, many are also speculating about a possible rematch with John Cena—and this time, both men have lost some size, making it a more even matchup that could easily headline any stadium in the world.

Honestly, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all. But here’s the real question: if Dwayne Johnson ends up winning an Oscar for his performance in The Smashing Machine, would he ever even return to the wrestling ring again? That’s something only time can tell.

That said, what do you think about ‘The Rock’s new movie? And do you see more actors stepping up to portray MMA fighters in biopics in the future? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!