Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg swapped his tech empire for the mixed martial arts gym this week, engaging in a rigorous training session with one of the UFC's most formidable fighters. The social media billionaire shared the mat with former bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, just days after the Georgian athlete lost his title to Petr Yan in a closely watched rematch.
From Boardroom to Training Mat: Zuckerberg's MMA Credibility Grows
Video footage from the intense workout quickly spread across social media platforms, capturing the attention of the combat sports world. In the clips, Dvalishvili, known for his relentless pace, controlled the flow of the light sparring. However, Zuckerberg, who has trained in MMA for several years, displayed notable composure, landing punches and even executing a takedown during their exchange.
Dvalishvili himself praised Zuckerberg's effort after the session, stating, "He's the man, I love it." This is not a one-off publicity stunt for the Meta CEO. He has been steadily building his reputation as a serious student of the sport, having previously trained with elite UFC champions and contenders like Alex Pereira, Israel Adesanya, and Alexander Volkanovski.
UFC President Dana White has taken note of Zuckerberg's dedication. In a past statement, White even suggested a potential competitive future, saying, "If Mark keeps training and competing and whatever, he could literally come here and fight in UFC... That would be absolutely awesome."
Dvalishvili's Focus: Gym Work Sets Stage for Yan Trilogy
The sparring session came at a critical moment for Merab Dvalishvili. His return to training followed a narrow loss to Petr Yan at UFC 323, which evened their fierce rivalry at one victory each. With both fighters holding a win over the other, the clamour for a decisive third fight to settle the score is growing rapidly within the MMA community.
MMA analyst Din Thomas strongly believes the next title shot should go to Dvalishvili, despite new contenders emerging in the stacked bantamweight division. "I think Merab is going to get the fight next," Thomas told MMA Junkie. He highlighted Dvalishvili's willingness to accept the last fight on short notice and his impressive record of three title defenses in a single year as key reasons.
However, Thomas also acknowledged the sheer challenge posed by Yan's dominant performance. "(Yan) looked so good that I almost don't know if Merab could get it back," he admitted, pondering the difficulty of the potential matchup.
What This Means for the Bantamweight Landscape
While Zuckerberg's foray into high-level training continues to turn heads, the core narrative remains within the UFC's 135-pound division. Dvalishvili's immediate return to hard work in the gym signals his unwavering focus on reclaiming the gold. The potential trilogy fight with Petr Yan is now the most compelling story in the weight class, promising a high-stakes clash that could define both fighters' legacies.
The incident underscores how the worlds of elite technology and elite athletics are increasingly intersecting. For now, all eyes are on the UFC matchmakers to see if they will book the third epic chapter between Dvalishvili and Yan, while Mark Zuckerberg's journey as a martial artist adds an unexpected subplot to the sport's narrative.
