UFC Fans Call BS on Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's Pride MMA Story

'The Rock' liked MMA before it was cool.

Fight fans are calling Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson into question after the professional actor-bodybuilder remarked that he considered joining Pride Fighting Championships back in 1997.

UFC Fighter's Dream Home Courtesy of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, but What About the Rest?

Appearing on 'The Joe Rogan Podcast' on November 15, Johnson explained crossing paths with MMA fighters back in 1997:

"...Pride [FC] just opened up in Japan, so I was seeing all these MMA guys [in Los Angeles] going over to PRIDE.

"...At that time I was making $150,000 wrestling 235 days a year... These guys over in Pride are making 250, 350 --- 500 [thousand]!"

Johnson's motivation wasn't just money, he was also unhappy with the WWE at the time:

"I thought then... I don't think I'm gonna make it in the WWE, people are booing me out of the arenas, I can't be myself --- they're telling me to f****** smile, I don't want to f****** smile it's not who I am."

MMA pioneers Ken Shamrock and Mark Kerr prompted Johnson to consider MMA:

"I start talking to Ken Shamrock... I run into Mark Kerr... he told me a little about Pride and I have this idea in my head, 'Well maybe I should train [for] MMA, and go to Pride and make money - real money - and I don't have to smile.'"

Fight fans have been keen to pick apart Johnson's story. The inaugural Pride event was in October 1997. For Johnson to have contemplated fighting that year, he would have needed awareness of Pride since its beginning. Kerr had his first Pride fight in 1998, Shamrock debuted in 2000.  At first glance, Johnson's timeline just doesn't add up.

He's turning into Hogan with these stories. Ya, you were just gonna train for a bit and then take on: Frye, Severn, Gracie(s), Goodridge, Taktarov, Kerr, Kimo, etc. And in 1997 they had their first event and by the end of 1998 they'd only done 3 more shows. 🙄

— Meltzer Said What? (@MeltzerSaidWhat) November 15, 2023

However, given Johnson's hectic lifestyle, it's plausible that he doesn't delve into the finer details. "The Rock" also contemplated joining the UFC in 2007, according to a post from 2017. "My goal was [Greg Jackson] as my coach and 2 full years to train," Johnson alleged.

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In 2007, Greg Jackson became part of Mike Winklejohn's academy, establishing Jackson Wink MMA Academy. It wasn't until 2009 that Jackson started amassing awards and attaining high status. For Johnson to have had Jackson on his radar back then, he must have possessed some niche knowledge of the MMA world.

Regardless of the veracity of his stories, Johnson remains connected to the UFC. His 'Project Rock' shoe brand holds the title of 'the official footwear sponsor of the UFC.' With his investment in the sport, Johnson's perspectives on the UFC and MMA are undeniably influenced by his substantial involvement.

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