The much-hyped cage match between tech titans Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg continues to generate buzz, with UFC CEO Dana White offering fresh insights into both billionaires' surprising combat abilities. While the fight never materialized, White's recent revelations paint a fascinating picture of what could have been an unprecedented billionaire showdown.
Zuckerberg: The Serious MMA Contender
Dana White came out strongly in defense of Mark Zuckerberg's fighting credentials during his appearance on the Skinny Confidential podcast. The UFC president emphasized that the Meta CEO is far more than just a tech entrepreneur when it comes to physical combat.
"People talk sh-t about Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg's actually a great athlete," White stated unequivocally. He highlighted Zuckerberg's dedication to mixed martial arts training and surfing, suggesting the Facebook founder possesses serious fighting capabilities that most people underestimate.
White didn't mince words when assessing Zuckerberg's potential, adding: "Zuckerberg will beat the sh-t out of you, okay? Everybody thinks he's some computer nerd. Mark Zuckerberg will kick your a--."
The Meta CEO himself previously revealed on the Theo Von podcast that he begins his day with fighting sessions to "re-center" himself before tackling business demands. His daily routine involves waking up around 7-7:30 AM, checking his phone, then engaging in two hours of combat training to prepare mentally for the day's challenges.
Musk's Hidden Judo Background
While praising Zuckerberg's abilities, White also shed light on Elon Musk's combat background that could have given him an edge in the proposed cage match. The UFC CEO revealed an interesting detail discovered during the fight's promotion phase.
"Elon is much older and weighs more," White noted, pointing out the physical advantages the Tesla and xAI CEO would bring to the octagon. More importantly, he disclosed that "he grew up doing Judo. So he's a Judo guy," revealing a previously unknown aspect of Musk's athletic history.
This combination of size advantage and formal martial arts training could have made Musk a formidable opponent, despite Zuckerberg's more recent and dedicated MMA training regimen.
The Fight That Never Happened
The billionaire showdown saga began in June 2023 when Musk initially challenged Zuckerberg on X (formerly Twitter). Zuckerberg famously responded with a "send me location" message, setting social media ablaze with anticipation.
However, the proposed cage match ultimately fell through when Zuckerberg called it off, stating that Musk wasn't serious about making the fight happen. White, who was involved in the initial promotion efforts, reflected on the entire episode as "a fun moment in my career" and "fascinating" despite its eventual cancellation.
Both tech billionaires have maintained their interest in combat sports, with Zuckerberg frequently attending major UFC fights cageside and integrating MMA into his lifestyle, while Musk's Judo background adds an intriguing layer to his public persona.
The revelations from Dana White provide combat sports enthusiasts and tech followers alike with compelling insights into what might have been one of the most watched and talked-about sporting events of the digital age.
