Mark Kerr Announced for UFC Hall of Fame Pioneer Wing

Mark Kerr`s significant fighting career is set to receive lasting recognition.

During the UFC 316 broadcast on Saturday, it was revealed that Kerr, age 56, is scheduled for induction into the UFC Hall of Fame`s Pioneer Wing. The induction ceremony is planned for June 28 in Las Vegas. Kerr, a two-time winner of the UFC heavyweight tournament, was present at the event in Newark, N.J., to view a tribute video honoring his career achievements.

This announcement comes at a time when Kerr`s profile is higher than ever, partly due to an upcoming biopic about his life. Titled “The Smashing Machine,” the film stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and is slated for release on October 3.

Further emphasizing the link between the induction and the film`s promotion, Saturday`s announcement also included the news that Dwayne Johnson himself will deliver Kerr`s induction speech on June 28.

Kerr was a dominant presence during the early days of the UFC, securing heavyweight tournament victories at UFC 14 and UFC 15 in 1997. Living up to his “Smashing Machine” moniker, the native Ohioan often overwhelmed his opponents, finishing 10 out of his first 11 professional fights in the opening round. However, maintaining this level of success proved challenging, and a loss to Kazuyuki Fujita in 2000 marked the beginning of a downturn in his career.

Following that defeat, Kerr`s performance declined significantly. He won only three of his subsequent 13 bouts before retiring in 2009 with a career record of 15 wins, 11 losses, and 1 No Contest.

Beyond his MMA achievements, Kerr also played a vital role in helping launch the prestigious Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) grappling championships. A highly accomplished Division I collegiate wrestler, he claimed victory in the ADCC tournaments in both 1999 and 2000. He was later recognized for his contributions by being included in the organization`s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2022.

When he steps onto the stage at T-Mobile Arena for the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony, Kerr will join a distinguished group of fellow 2025 inductees. These include Vitor Belfort in the Pioneer Wing, Amanda Nunes and Robbie Lawler in the Modern Wing, the classic UFC 236 title bout between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum in the Fight Wing, and producer Craig Piligian in the Contributor Wing.

His inclusion adds another prominent name to the esteemed Pioneer Wing, which already features legends such as Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, and Anderson Silva.