Tom Hardy Quietly Enters and Wins Jiu Jitsu Open Contest

Since making his big-screen debut in Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down (2001), 45-year-old actor Tom Hardy has built a reputation for taking up action-intensive roles such as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, Eddie Brock in Venom, Max in Mad Max: Fury Road, and main protagonist Tom Conlon in Warrior. Earlier this week, news surfaced that Hardy brought his years of training to the test, quietly entering the 2022 UMAC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Open in Milton Keynes.

His surprise appearance comes after his win at the REORG Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship last month, and it was reported that he took home another victory on September 17, placing first in his division — competing as a blue belt with men 41 and older.

"Everyone recognized him but he was very humble and was happy to take time out for people to take photographs with him...It was a real pleasure to have him compete at our event," commented an event spokesman.

"He’s just a top guy–he’s very strong which surprised me and a very good fighter. But he’s probably the toughest competitor I’ve had — he certainly lived up to his Bane character, that’s for sure," commented one of Hardy's competitors via The Northern Echo.

Looking forward, Hardy is set to appear in the action thriller Havoc, '60s motorcycle gang original film, The Bikeriders, and Venom 3. Take a quick glimpse at the actor in action below.

In other news, NBA and NBPA are in talks to lower the draft-age eligibility from 19 to 18.