The day after Elon Musk challenged Mark Zuckerberg on social media to “a cage match” this month, Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, obtained a textual content.
It was from Mr. Zuckerberg, chief government of Meta. He requested Mr. White, who heads the world’s premier blended martial arts competitors, which is fought in cage-like rings, if Mr. Musk was severe a couple of battle.
Mr. White referred to as Mr. Musk, who runs Tesla, Twitter and SpaceX, and confirmed that he was prepared to throw down. Mr. White then relayed that to Mr. Zuckerberg. In response, Mr. Zuckerberg posted on Instagram: “Send Me Location,” a reference to the catchphrase of Khabib Nurmagomedov, one of many U.F.C.’s most embellished athletes.
Since then, Mr. White mentioned, he has talked to the tech billionaires individually each night time to prepare the showdown. On Tuesday, he mentioned, he was “on the phone with those two until 12:45 in the morning.” He added, “They both want to do it.”
If you thought {that a} cage battle between two of the world’s richest males was only a far-fetched social media stunt, suppose once more.
Over the previous 10 days, Mr. White mentioned he, Mr. Musk and Mr. Zuckerberg — aided by advisers — have negotiated behind the scenes and are inching towards bodily fight. While there aren’t any ensures a match will occur, the broad contours of an occasion are taking form, mentioned Mr. White and three individuals with data of the discussions.
The battle could be an exhibition match, Mr. White mentioned, and outdoors official U.F.C. jurisdiction and rights offers, although he would assist produce the occasion. The tech leaders have agreed there needs to be a charity part, Mr. White and an individual acquainted with the talks mentioned, with particulars nonetheless being labored out. The most well-liked location is Las Vegas, which requires approval from the Nevada Athletic Commission. On Thursday, Mr. Musk tweeted that the occasion might additionally occur within the Roman Colosseum.
Mr. Zuckerberg’s buddies and advisers have typically supported the match, two individuals near him mentioned, although others mentioned a battle could be a distraction and never one of the best use of his time. One individual near Mr. Musk mentioned that whereas he hated sports activities and didn’t seem to have the self-discipline to coach often, nobody might rule something out with him.
If the matchup between Mr. Musk, 52, and Mr. Zuckerberg, 39, goes forward, it will be a uncommon spectacle, even within the braggadocio-filled universe of the tech trade. While Steve Jobs and Bill Gates used to snipe at one another, the closest the tech world had earlier than this to actual sporting feuds was amongst billionaire yachtsmen like Larry Ellison of Oracle and Hasso Plattner of SAP.
But two wildly rich tech titans grappling, punching and kicking in a Las Vegas or Roman area? No one would have dreamed it.
Meta declined to remark. Mr. Musk didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Mr. Zuckerberg and Mr. Musk have lengthy teetered between being rivals, frenemies and outright enemies. The two have criticized one another over time, together with about Mr. Musk’s SpaceX rockets, knowledge privateness scandals at Meta and extra. Most just lately, Mr. Zuckerberg dispatched a crew at Meta to construct a competitor to Mr. Musk’s Twitter, code-named Project 92.
If they take their rivalry past these jibes, the U.F.C.’s Mr. White mentioned he had considerations in regards to the bodily gaps between the billionaires. Apart from their 13-year age distinction, Mr. Musk is alleged to be not less than 70 kilos heavier than Mr. Zuckerberg. In official blended martial arts bouts, athletes are typically matched up by weight.
“We have two guys that have never professionally fought, and they’re in two completely different weight classes,” Mr. White mentioned. Still, he mentioned, “it will be the biggest fight in the history of combat sports.”
Mr. Zuckerberg is very acquainted with the U.F.C. world. Over the previous 18 months, he has launched into a private journey to bulk up and dove deep into Brazilian jujitsu, a grappling martial artwork during which rivals attempt to submit their opponent and which is utilized in U.F.C. preventing.
Mr. Zuckerberg began coaching on a lark principally in his storage in 2021, the place he constructed what he referred to as a “mini academy” with a circle of buddies who spar with him. He has mentioned he appreciated that Brazilian jujitsu required “100 percent focus” and strategic considering to defeat an opponent, quite than brute power.
Mr. Zuckerberg has sought out martial arts specialists, together with Dave Camarillo, James Terry and Khai Wu. In May, he competed in his first public martial arts match in Redwood City, Calif., which he attended undercover — up till the second he took off his hat and sun shades to battle. He received gold and silver medals within the problem.
Last 12 months, Meta additionally introduced it had partnered with the U.F.C. to deliver blended martial arts fights to Horizon Worlds, its digital actuality app.
Mr. White mentioned Mr. Zuckerberg was really devoted to the game.
“I’ve been talking to Zuckerberg now for maybe close to two years now,” he mentioned. “And there’s never like banter or we’re joking and laughing.” He mentioned the Meta chief government was “dead serious all the time.”
Mr. Zuckerberg is probably going in preventing form. He has been on a strict exercise routine, going for runs and difficult buddies and colleagues to beat his instances, two individuals near him mentioned. This month, he posted a private report for finishing the “Murph” problem, which requires finishing a sequence of pull-ups, push-ups, operating a number of miles and doing lots of of squats, all whereas sporting weighted, military-grade physique armor.
“Doing sports that basically require your full attention, I think, is really important to my mental health and the way to stay focused on everything I’m doing,” he mentioned in a latest podcast episode.
Mr. Musk, however, has tweeted that he “almost never” works out and as soon as suffered a again harm that required surgical procedure after taking part in an exhibition with a sumo wrestler. This month, he mentioned he had educated in “judo, Kyokushin (full contact)” — two Japanese martial arts — and “no rules streetfighting.”
“He made that very clear: ‘I’m not going to lose any weight,’” Mr. White mentioned of Mr. Musk’s strategy to the potential matchup. “‘Are we going to fight or are we not going to fight?’” Mr. White mentioned Mr. Musk instructed him.
This week, Lex Fridman, a podcaster, posted images of himself coaching judo with Mr. Musk. Mr. Fridman, who has additionally educated jujitsu with Mr. Zuckerberg, didn’t reply to a request for remark.
At least one individual doesn’t seem like a fan of a battle: Maye Musk, Mr. Musk’s mom.
“Don’t encourage this match!” she just lately tweeted, together with two frowning emojis.
Source: www.nytimes.com