Discover the surprising connection between popular actor and comedian Kevin James and the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). Learn about his role in the movie ‘Here Comes The Boom’ and his real-life wrestling background. Find out what MMA legends Joe Rogan and Bas Rutten have to say about James’ martial arts skills.
| Kevin James: From Comedian to MMA Fighter |
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| Kevin James starred in the movie ‘Here Comes The Boom’ as a high school teacher turned MMA fighter. |
| Before his acting career, James was a talented wrestler in high school and college. |
| He competed in the heavyweight division and was known for his toughness. |
| James and WWE superstar Mick Foley were teammates and attended Cortland University together. |
| Joe Rogan and Bas Rutten praised James’ martial arts abilities in a podcast episode. |
| Rutten confirmed that the speed seen in the movie was not enhanced for the camera. |
| Rogan and James were roommates in their early 20s in New York. |
Kevin James, the popular American actor and comedian, is widely known for his role in the movie ‘Here Comes The Boom’ (2012). In the film, James portrays a high school teacher who becomes an unexpected mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter.
The story revolves around a struggling school that faces budget cuts, leading James’ character, Scott Voss, to take matters into his own hands. To raise funds for the school, Voss decides to step into the MMA cage.
While many fans are familiar with James’ performance in the movie, they may be surprised to learn that he has a real-life connection to the world of MMA. Before his acting career took off, James was a talented wrestler during his high school and college days.
During his wrestling career, James competed in the heavyweight division and was known for his toughness. Interestingly, he competed alongside his longtime friend and WWE superstar, Mick Foley. Foley has even mentioned that a back injury James sustained opened up an opportunity for him to join the wrestling team.
After high school, both Foley and James attended Cortland University. Their friendship has remained strong over the years, with Foley considering James a close friend.
In a podcast episode of The Joe Rogan Experience (JRE), Joe Rogan and MMA legend Bas Rutten discussed Kevin James’ skills and background in MMA. Both Rogan and Rutten appeared in ‘Here Comes The Boom’ alongside James.
Rogan praised James’ martial arts abilities, emphasizing his power and calling him a ‘gorilla.’ Rutten confirmed that the speed viewers see in the movie is genuine and not enhanced for the camera.
The conversation also touched on Rogan’s personal relationship with James, describing him as a ‘buddy’ and revealing that they were roommates in their early 20s in New York.
To hear Rogan and Rutten’s comments on Kevin James, you can watch the clip here.
