Mark Kerr
UFC Hall of Famer, "The Smashing Machine"
Mark Kerr, nicknamed The Smashing Machine, is a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, World Vale Tudo Championship winner, four-time ADCC World Champion, and a 2025 UFC Hall of Fame inductee in the Pioneer Era Wing.
He was born December 21, 1968, in Toledo, Ohio. A 6-foot-3, 255-pound wrestler, he lost to Kurt Angle in the 1996 Olympic trials and turned to mixed martial arts. In 1997 he won Vale Tudo 3 in Brazil and the UFC 14 and UFC 15 heavyweight tournaments, becoming one of only five fighters to win multiple UFC tournaments. From 1998 to 2001 he fought in PRIDE in Japan, earning an estimated $1.8 million. His professional MMA record is 15-11-0 with one no-contest.
In 1999 he was hospitalized after an opiate overdose. John Hyams's 2002 HBO documentary The Smashing Machine followed him from 1999 to 2001. After 2000 he won only 4 of 15 fights and lost his last five before retiring. He relapsed in 2011, entered treatment again in late 2013, and spent seven months in a halfway house. In 2016 he was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy from repeated trauma.
Benny Safdie's 2025 A24 biopic, starring Dwayne Johnson as Kerr and Emily Blunt as Dawn Staples, premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where Safdie won the Silver Lion, and reached theaters on October 3, 2025. Kerr married Franci Alberding on December 31, 2023. They live in the Phoenix area and co-own Absolute Wellness.
Backstage: Mark & Franci Kerr talk Dwayne Johnson and The Smashing Machine
Never seen/heard footage that did NOT make the original full episode. Mike and Scott had 30-minutes in the studio before the podcast went live. Mark shares some great stories about The Rock, filming the movie, The Smashing Machine, and more.
Join us as we delve into the inspiring journey of Mark Kerr, a former NCAA wrestling champion and MMA fighter, as he shares his life story, challenges, and insights into overcoming adversity. This episode offers valuable lessons on resilience, vu…
Mike shares his predictions for 2026 + an Encore of Mark & Franci Kerr
Co-Host, Mike Lindstrom, shares a brief New Year's recap and talks about some things to expect in the New Year (2026). Brand new episodes will resume on Wednesday, January 7th.
Mike and Scott are replaying one of the most popular episodes from 2025, which was Episode 10 that originally aired on December 9th, 2025.
In this episode of the What's Your Story podcast, Mike and Scott interview UFC Hall of Famer Mark Kerr and his wife, Franci Kerr. They discuss Mark's incr…
From UFC Legend to Broken & Back | Mark & Franci Kerr
In this episode of the What's Your Story? podcast, Mark and Franci Kerr share their incredible journey from personal struggles to redemption, highlighting the impact of fame and the making of the film 'The Smashing Machine.' They discuss their relationship, the importance of vulnerability, and how spirituality plays a role in their lives. Mark's transition into business and wellness, along with their future aspirations, showcases their commitment to helping others through…