It's finally here. After months of buzz, "The Smashing Machine" has officially landed in Japanese theaters, giving fans in the country where Mark Kerr made his name a chance to experience the raw, unflinching story of one of MMA's most complex figures.

Kerr, a former NCAA champion wrestler who transitioned to mixed martial arts, became a household name during his tenure in Pride Fighting Championships—a promotion that defined an era of the sport. To mark the film's release, he sat down with "Gong Kakutogi Magazine," a publication that has chronicled martial arts since 1986, for an intimate interview that peeled back the layers of his journey.

In the conversation, Kerr opened up about the full arc of his career: the transition from wrestling mats to the ring, the battles that tested him inside and out, and the controversies that swirled around Pride FC. He didn't shy away from the darkest chapters, including his struggle with addiction to steroids and opioids—a fight that nearly cost him everything. "I didn't have an off button," he recalled. "And the results were just disastrous."

For longtime fans, the interview offers a treasure trove of untold stories. Kerr revealed that a bout against Royce Gracie was all but set for Pride 2 but fell through for multiple reasons—a matchup that could have rewritten history. He also spoke candidly about the politics behind the scenes, from Gracie's influence over tournament rules to Pride representatives instructing him on how to approach his fight against Nobuhiko Takada.

Yet, despite the highs and treacherous lows, Kerr's love for fighting in front of Japanese fans shines through. He described the energy of the crowd as electric, a force that pushed him to his limits—and sometimes beyond. As his body began to break down under the relentless strain of his schedule, he turned to painkillers, spiraling into a period he once described as filled with shame.

Today, though, the powerhouse wrestler is clean, healthy, and looking back with clarity. As a new generation of MMA fans discovers his story through "The Smashing Machine," Kerr's legacy is being reframed—not just as a fighter who conquered opponents, but as one who conquered himself.