Morning Report: Dana White Envisions Potential Historic Battle between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg
The clash between two billionaire titans is gaining momentum, surpassing mere social media banter and potentially materializing into an MMA showdown. Dana White, the president of the UFC, is eager to transform this hypothetical fight into a reality.
During UFC Vegas 61 in October, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, attended the event where Yan Xiaonan triumphed over Mackenzie Dern via majority decision in the main event. While seeing the social media mogul at a UFC gathering seemed peculiar to many, Zuckerberg has exhibited an increasing interest in MMA since then. Despite both Zuckerberg and Elon Musk lacking professional fighting backgrounds, they, along with Dana White, are exploring the possibilities.
“Zuckerberg is taking this seriously, man,” White revealed on The Pat McAfee Show. “He’s deeply invested in this sport, he trains and has been training for years. Now he’s even participating in jiu-jitsu tournaments. And from my conversations with Elon, I know he has also trained in martial arts. He has experience in jiu-jitsu and says, ‘Listen, I grew up in South Africa, I’ve been in a lot of fights. It’s not like I haven’t fought before.'”
“These two tech guys may not strike you as fighters, but they genuinely want to compete. It’s real, and we’ll see where it leads. You know me, I’m working on it. I believe this would be the biggest fight in the history of the world, a record that would never be broken. I enjoy putting on fights that people want to see, just like this one.”
History has shown that “freakshow” fights captivate the general public the most. The 2017 crossover boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and then-UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor drew 4.3 million pay-per-view buys, making it the second highest-selling fight of all time. It closely trailed behind Mayweather’s long-awaited dream match with Manny Pacquiao in 2015, which generated 4.6 million buys.
If Musk vs. Zuckerberg were to happen, it would likely be a one-and-done special attraction. Dana White mentioned that it would be an exhibition match, citing the differences in size and other factors. However, even if it were to take place in the UFC octagon, White would seize the opportunity to showcase real talent and emerging stars on the overall fight card, rather than solely relying on the charity clash between the two billionaires.
“If you’re going to charge $100 for something, which would probably be the price for this event, and these guys can potentially raise hundreds of millions of dollars for charity, you want to provide an entertaining card,” White explained. “When people stay home on Saturday night and turn off their TVs, they should feel like they witnessed some great fights. This is the type of crossover fight that reaches beyond the traditional fight audience and appeals to everyone, including women of all ages.”
TOP STORIES
- Raush Manfio’s manager and Natan Schulte respond to PFL’s controversial decision to suspend the fighters.
- Ilia Topuria willing to wait for a title shot but open to fighting Max Holloway in Spain.
- Neil Magny responds to “little Irish kid” Ian Machado Garry, saying he asked for the wrong Neil.
- Aljamain Sterling compares his UFC relationship to an estranged father and mocks Sean O’Malley’s training.
- Justin Tafa expresses frustration after a gruesome eye poke at UFC Jacksonville, Austen Lane responds.
- Professionals react to a gruesome fight-ending foul at UFC Jacksonville, urging medical attention.
- Maycee Barber seeks a rematch with Alexa Grasso after her wild win at UFC Jacksonville.
- Robert Whittaker believes UFC middleweights underestimate Dricus Du Plessis, citing it as a major reason for his success.
- Fighters praise Ilia Topuria’s dominance over Josh Emmett, foreseeing a future title challenge.
VIDEO STEW
- MMA Hook’s UFC Jacksonville Post-Show.
- Free fight.
- UFC ’95.
- Early look at Cejudo vs. Vera.
- Burt love.
- Bellator’s best Brits.
- Kana time.
- Full fight.
- PFL 6, 2023 Highlights.
- Deep 114 Impact trailer.
- Road to Suga 1.
- Fancy Garrot Choke.
MORNING MUSIC
Social Media Bouillabaisse
- Georgia.
- Merab Dvalishvili congratulates Ilia Topuria.
- Emotions.
- Monster.
- Anatoly Malykhin finishes Arjan Bhullar to unify the ONE heavyweight title.
- Chaos at RIZIN 43.
- A twister submission.
- Impressive one-punch KO.
- Another incredible submission.
- Takeru’s stoppage over Bailey Sugden.
- Bloodied Maycee Barber.
- Aftermath of RIZIN 43.
Feels.
Kickin’ it.
Fight week.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Anthony Smith (36-18) vs. Ryan Spann (21-8); UFC Singapore, Aug. 26.
- Taila Santos (19-2) vs. Erin Blanchfield (11-1); UFC Singapore, Aug. 26.
FINAL THOUGHTS
RIZIN 43 delivered an unforgettable experience. If you haven’t watched the highlights yet, make sure to catch the event replay. It was a showcase of intense and extraordinary violence.
Thank you for reading!
POLL POSITION
Last Week’s Results:
- Friday: 85% of 329 votes answered “Yes” when asked if Marvin Vettori should find a new team.
- Thursday: 74% of 485 votes answered “Yes” when asked if a Conor McGregor vs. Mike Perry BKB match would do a million PPV buys.
- Wednesday: 55% of 400 votes answered “Ilia Topuria and Amanda Ribas” when asked who would win over the weekend. Ilia Topuria defeated Josh Emmett via unanimous decision, and Maycee Barber defeated Amanda Ribas via second-round TKO at UFC Jacksonville.
- Tuesday: 35% of 364 votes answered “Beneil Dariush” when asked who Arman Tsarukyan should face next.
- Monday: 31% of 494 votes answered “Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 2 loser” when asked who Beneil Dariush should fight next.
Today’s exit poll:
Poll
Will Musk and Zuckerberg ever compete in some type of combat variety?
Yes
No
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Billionaire battle
What is the potential fight being discussed between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg?
The potential fight being discussed is an MMA showdown between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, two world-famous innovators and billionaires.
Do Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have any professional fighting backgrounds?
No, neither Elon Musk nor Mark Zuckerberg have any professional fighting backgrounds. However, both individuals have shown interest in martial arts and have trained in disciplines like jiu-jitsu.
Is the fight expected to be a one-time exhibition match?
Yes, if the fight were to happen, it is likely to be a one-time exhibition match rather than an ongoing rivalry. Given the differences in size and other factors, Dana White, the UFC President, has suggested that it would be an exhibition match.
What are the potential charitable aspects of the fight?
The fight could potentially raise significant funds for charity. Dana White mentioned that charging a higher price for the event, possibly around $100, could generate hundreds of millions of dollars for charitable causes.
How does Dana White envision the fight between Musk and Zuckerberg?
Dana White believes that the fight between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg would be the biggest fight in the history of the world. He sees it as a crossover event that would appeal to a broader audience beyond traditional fight fans. White aims to put on an entertaining card with real talent and rising stars alongside the main event clash.
More about Billionaire battle
- The Pat McAfee Show: Link
- UFC Vegas 61: Link
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor: Link
- Dana White’s interview on The Pat McAfee Show: Link
- UFC official website: Link
