Road House's Jake Gyllenhaal On Entering UFC's 'Sacred Space'

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Not many actors can say they have graced the canvas of the UFC Octagon.

Like Kevin James in 2011's 'Here Comes The Boom', Jake Gyllenhaal had the 'honor' of entering the cage for his lead role in 'Road House'. The 1989 remake stars Gyllenhaal as Elwood Dalton, a former MMA fighter who runs into all kinds of trouble while protecting a roadhouse in the Florida Keys.

With fighting Irishman Conor McGregor as his co-star, the UFC brought out the big guns and let Gyllenhaal and co. film his very own UFC debut at UFC 285 in front of a live audience. The actor faced two-time UFC fighter Jay Hieron in a wild, choreographed fight.

Jake Gyllenhaal wins as he brutally knocks out the middleweight champion #UFC285 pic.twitter.com/ Ik1jRUg52Q

Chisanga Malata (@Chisanga_Malata) March 5, 2023

Fast forward a year later to the movie's premiere at the SXSW Festival on Friday, Gyllenhaal has recalled what it was like filming the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"It [was] supposed to be at [UFC] 283 and then had COVID the night before. So we had prepped for that fight and then had to wait two months, and then we planned for 285. So, throughout the shooting I was sort of in that mentality and physically I definitely felt that way," Gyllenhaal told MMA Junkie. "Like I had training every day and getting ready, so at a certain point you have to convince yourself that stuff as an actor, you know?"