Bas Rutten is best known for being a mixed martial arts pioneer and a former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight titleholder. However, he's gotten a second life due to his outsized personality, leading to many acting roles and decades in the commentary booth. Most recently, Rutten starred with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in “The Smashing Machine,” Benny Safdie's acclaimed Mark Kerr biopic.
Filming A24's The Smashing Machine proved to be a real trip for Rutten, largely due to its historical accuracy and how it recreated the feel of Pride Fighting Championships.