(‘Here Comes the Boom’ trailer, via FilmsActuTrailers. It’s basically like Warrior, but with barf.)
Kevin James has been one of the UFC’s most visible celebrity fans, and he clearly called in a few favors for his upcoming MMA comedy, Here Comes the Boom. The movie centers on a 40-something science teacher who turns to cage-fighting to raise money for his school, and features our hero Bas Rutten in a supporting role, as well as cameos from Jason Miller, Krzysztof Soszynski, Joe Rogan, and Bruce Buffer. With Boom slated to hit theaters on October 12th, we decided to round up a bunch of our favorite MMA fighter movie cameos. And as you’ll see, they’re usually not hired for their acting ability…
Movie: Blood and Bone (2009)
Fighter: Gina Carano
You know, it’s nice to see women entering the world of underground illegal fighting rings. Before she was Mallory Kane, Gina Carano got her feet wet in the movie business as a badass female street-fighter. Later, she asks Michael Jai White to call her, maybe.
Movie: Big Stan (2007)
Fighters: Bob Sapp, Don Frye, Randy Couture
At the time, the idea of Rob Schneider beating Bob Sapp in a fight was utterly laughable — and not in the way that Schneider may have intended. But these days? Yeah, I’d put my cash on Rob. After Rob establishes himself as a prison badass (!?), Randy Couture throws in his two cents in a discussion about prison rape, while Don Frye is just there hanging out, enjoying the nice weather.
Movie: The Midnight Meat Train (2008)
Fighter: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
Rampage was a shoe-in for this role, considering all of his past experience fucking with strangers for no reason. But going for that rear-naked choke was probably a bad idea. Come on bro, stick to your bread-and-butter.
Movie: Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Fighter: Teila Tuli (credited as Taylor Wily)
The UFC 1 sumo wrestler/trivia answer shows up as a kindly Hawaiian local who befriends the heartbroken main character played by Jason Segel. He also gets to slap a dude in the face later, so it’s not like his talents were totally wasted.
Movie: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
Fighter: Joe Son
Everybody’s least-favorite sex offender gets his Oddjob on. In a related story, War Machine has just constructed a fully-functional penis-pump out of a bologna sandwich. True story.
Movie: Locked Down (2010)
Fighter: Kimbo Slice
Method-actor Kevin Ferguson plays a prison-fighter who tells his opponent — and I quote — ”I’mma smush yo shit in.” Do you get the feeling that he was being typecast?