The Rock Reveals the Real Reason He Never Tried UFC

For years, fans have asked why Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson never made the jump from WWE to UFC or MMA. This week, he finally gave a clear answer.

The topic came up on the New Heights podcast, hosted by NFL brothers Travis and Jason Kelce. During the conversation, the former WWE star spoke openly about the idea of real combat sports and why he ultimately stayed away.

The Rock explained that MMA is not just a step up from wrestling, but something far more intense. He described it as “a whole different beast” and even called it “a monster.”

Travis Kelce asked if he ever seriously thought about trying it anyway. Johnson admitted that there was a time when the idea crossed his mind. Back in the late 1990s, he was still early in his WWE career and not earning much money.

He said that during those days, fighters in UFC were making good money, and it made him and his friends curious about what could have been possible. He explained how training for MMA can mess with your confidence and ego, making you think you might be able to handle it.

Still, reality hit him hard once he really thought it through. Johnson said that while wrestling and MMA may look similar to some people, the risks are very different. At some point, he realized the physical damage would be serious. As he put it, “Those guys would take my jaw and knock it into another area code.” He followed that with a blunt and honest line that made fans laugh: “I don’t like to get hit in the face.”

The comments were shared during the New Heights podcast episode, which quickly gained attention online. Today, Johnson remains closely tied to WWE and is also a major figure in entertainment and business. While fans can imagine alternate worlds where he entered the UFC, it is clear he has no regrets about the path he chose.

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