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Jake Gyllenhaal lights up UFC world with insane 'knockout' - for a movie

The Hollywood actor made a surprise cameo in the Octagon, much to the delight of fans.

chris young
Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor are pictured left at UFC 285, with Gyllenhall left seen filming scenes for the movie Road House.
Jake Gyllenhaal stunned fans at UFC 285, when he appeared between fights to film scenes for the upcoming movie Road House, where he plays a UF fighter. Pictures: Getty Images/Twitter

You read the headline correctly - Hollywood actor Jake Gyllenhaal did indeed step into the ring at UFC 285 last weekend. Given a full intro, unaware fans could be forgiven for somehow thinking they'd missed the 42-year old's entrance to the MMA world.

In fact, the octagon was briefly transformed into a film set as Gyllenhaal films a remake of the 1989 classic Road House, originally starring Patrick Swayze. The re-imagined plot sees Gyllenhaal's Elwood Dalton playing a former UFC fighter, with Dana White's promotion keen to get in on the act.

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Gyllenhaal looked the part when he showed up to a fictional weigh-in, cutting an impressive figure before returning to the Octagon in Las Vegas later on for the film's middleweight title bout. In the ring with him, playing Jax Harris, was former UFC fighter turned stuntman Jay Hieron.

Spectators were treated to the pair pulling off some bruising moves, with Gyllenhaal's character eventually prevailing thanks to an uppercut and flying knee, with the scene culminating in him pushing the referee away after winning the fight to land further blows to his defeated opponent.

The spectacle set the MMA world alight, with fans in disbelief at what was playing out in front of them. The scene reached a fever pitch when Conor McGregor made a cameo, rumoured to be playing henchman to the film's villain.

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After slapping his rival during the earlier weigh-in scene, Gyllenhaal joined UFC commentator Jon Arik for an interview in character as Dalton after the 'fight'. “I can’t believe I trained six weeks for this s**t, to fight this piece of s**t. Just give me the belt now. C’mon motherf**ker, let’s go.” Gyllenhaal said.

When UFC boss Dana White was quizzed on how he though Gyllenhaal would fare in the 185-pound division, he comically quipped it was hard to say since he wasn't approved by anti-doping authorities.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor watch UFC 285.
Jake Gyllenhaal took in UFC 285 alongside Conor McGregor after filming scenes for Road House earlier. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

"Listen, what can I say? He looks good. I don't think he's been USADA tested, but he looks great," White said.

It might also be worth noting the original "Road House" features a protagonist with a mysterious past that included killing a person, which could be what is supposed to be happening there. Gyllenhaal fully committed to the part, including his Octagon entrance and weigh-in antics.

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