Twenty-five years ago, in 1999, Mark Kerr, a two-time UFC heavyweight tournament champion, was making significant strides in Japan.
Recently, Mark Kerr was inducted into the Pioneer wing of the UFC Hall of Fame during International Fight Week.
This MMA icon`s life is the subject of an upcoming film titled after his famous moniker, `The Smashing Machine,` with Dwayne `The Rock` Johnson set to play him.
While Kerr faced challenges later in his PRIDE career, upon his initial arrival, he rapidly established himself as a premier competitor in the promotion.
At PRIDE 6, Kerr stepped into the ring to face one of Japan`s biggest stars, aiming to avenge a highly controversial defeat suffered by his legendary teammate.
Mark Kerr Dominates and Submits Nobuhiko Takada, Avenging Coleman`s Disputed Loss
The backdrop to this bout was the infamous PRIDE 5 fight where Nobuhiko Takada secured a second-round submission win over Mark Coleman – a result widely seen as controversial.
Coleman himself has hinted that the fight was potentially `worked` or fixed, a theory long held by fans, especially given the nature of his submission via heel hook.
Takada, a former professional wrestler, was no stranger to controversial bouts. Mark Kerr recently discussed on the JAXXON podcast that even Takada`s fight against Rickson Gracie was allegedly staged to help build PRIDE and elevate its stars.
When Kerr and Takada met at PRIDE 6, Kerr ensured the outcome was decisive and left absolutely no doubt regarding its legitimacy or whether the result was predetermined.
Takada managed to find some success in striking exchanges and was able to return to his feet after some of Kerr`s initial takedowns.
But after executing his third and final takedown, Kerr established dominant top control and expertly secured a kimura submission.
Despite attempting to escape, Takada`s predicament worsened until he was forced to tap out, clearly in pain and clutching his arm.
Kerr on PRIDE`s Unspoken Rule: Don`t Discuss Fixed Fights
While potentially staged fights may have initially boosted PRIDE`s profile, the persistent rumors of predetermined outcomes continue to cast a shadow over the promotion`s historical legacy.
For years, fighters largely remained silent on the issue, but figures like Mark Kerr have begun to speak out, though many details and rumors still lack clarity.
Speaking on the JAXXON podcast, Kerr asserted that there was an implicit understanding, an unspoken rule among fighters in Japan, not to discuss the reality of `worked` contests.
Kerr is quoted saying, “Oh, I know there was and again, it’s one of those unwritten rules, like if it was a work, you’re never going to mention it. Ever. It was crazy because over there in Japan, you didn’t know you messed up until they went, ‘Oh, you messed up.’ It was like these unwritten rules that existed, they’re called ‘implied rules,’ right? You’re supposed to know that gravity, if you jump off a 50-story building, it’s going to kill you. You didn’t know that? Like, what the…”
