While the highly anticipated cage fight between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk ultimately didn`t happen, there`s still a possibility that Zuckerberg could step into the UFC sphere, albeit in a different capacity.
This Wednesday marks the start of a new era for the UFC with the launch of UFC BJJ 1, the organization`s first dedicated foray into the world of competitive grappling. While they`ve previously held Fight Pass Invitational events, UFC BJJ 1 is designed to crown champions across three weight classes—bantamweight, lightweight, and welterweight—signaling a concerted effort to dominate the grappling scene, similar to how the UFC revolutionized mixed martial arts.
UFC CEO Dana White shared his ambitions with TMZ Sports, stating that the goal is to facilitate the biggest possible grappling matches while simultaneously educating the public about jiu-jitsu and its leading figures. He aims to introduce structure and organization to the existing global landscape of jiu-jitsu tournaments. White explained, “We’re gonna come in and say, ‘You can be considered one of the best in the world, but you can come fight the best at the UFC and win a world title. You’ll be a world champion, everybody will be ranked, and put some structure to it.”
However, White envisions UFC BJJ as more than just a platform for the world`s elite grapplers. He`s also open to it hosting major matches featuring competitors who might not be professional athletes but possess significant public profiles and grappling experience.
“Let me tell you something, there’s a lot of other people out there, too,” White remarked, specifically mentioning “actors and athletes.” He highlighted figures like Zuckerberg, Mario Lopez, and Tom Hardy, all of whom have competed in jiu-jitsu tournaments. White sees UFC BJJ as a venue where “anybody could come and compete here in jiu-jitsu.”
Recall that White notably attempted to arrange an MMA bout between Zuckerberg and Elon Musk during their public spat. While that particular fight never materialized, White did eventually join the board of Zuckerberg’s company, Meta. This connection means White and Zuckerberg frequently discuss fight-related topics.
“Yeah, we talk a lot about fighting, obviously,” White confirmed. He explicitly stated that if Mark Zuckerberg continues training and competing in jiu-jitsu, he could “100 percent” participate in UFC BJJ. He also mentioned that other well-known figures like Tom Hardy and Mario Lopez are skilled practitioners of the sport.
Frankly, the notion of a Zuckerberg vs. Elon MMA fight always seemed somewhat unrealistic and perhaps not the best fit. A grappling match, on the other hand, makes considerably more sense and could genuinely serve as a significant attraction for the nascent UFC BJJ promotion, helping it gain significant exposure and legitimacy. This seems to reflect the current state of entertainment and sport.
