Former UFC competitor and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert Fabiano Iha has weighed in on a hypothetical matchup between Hollywood heavyweights Vin Diesel and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. During an appearance on the Jaxxon podcast, Iha shared his professional opinion on who would emerge victorious in a theoretical mixed martial arts contest between the two action stars.
Iha, known as the “King of Arm Bar” during his MMA career, didn’t mince words when asked about the potential outcome. According to the 54-year-old veteran, Diesel would have the upper hand due to his superior technical skills and diverse martial arts background.
“Vin has more talent,” Iha explained. “He has very good hands, he’s a good boxer, and his jiu-jitsu is very good.” The former UFC fighter went on to praise Diesel’s ground game, suggesting that the “Fast and Furious” star would have a significant advantage if the hypothetical bout went to the mat.
In contrast, Iha was less complimentary of Johnson’s combat skills, stating that “The Rock doesn’t know how to fight.” He emphasized that technique often trumps size in martial arts competitions, implying that Johnson’s impressive physique wouldn’t necessarily translate to success in the octagon.
This unexpected comparison comes amid a backdrop of well-documented tension between Diesel and Johnson, which reportedly began during the filming of “The Fate of the Furious” in 2017. The friction led to Johnson’s absence from “F9: The Fast Saga” in 2021, though he did make a brief appearance in last year’s “Fast X.”
Fellow action star and former professional wrestler John Cena recently commented on the rivalry between the two actors. In an interview with the Armchair Expert podcast, Cena described both men as “very alpha, driven people,” suggesting that their strong personalities may have contributed to the clash.
