The Build-Up to the Supposed Showdown
Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg’s rumored cage match, had it come to fruition, could have been the most sensational battle in history, as per UFC CEO Dana White.
Key Details: Dana White shared his thoughts on this potential face-off during the Lex Fridman Podcast, posted on YouTube recently, questioning if the match would have been worth watching.
White responded promptly, asserting, “It would’ve been the biggest fight ever done.”
Further prodded by Fridman, White revealed that while many engage in verbal sparring or legal disputes, these two tech luminaries were contemplating a physical showdown in the Octagon.
He emphasized that despite their geeky backgrounds in the tech realm, Musk and Zuckerberg were keen on settling their differences through hand-to-hand combat.
White delved into the seriousness of the situation, detailing his projections, venue scouting, and even reaching out to establishments like the coliseum in Italy, indicating the gravity of the potential showdown. “These guys were serious. And this was something that was really going to happen,” he remarked.
Don’t miss the latest tech updates by subscribing to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter.
Implications: Speculations arose amidst rumors of Meta Platforms Inc. planning a “Twitter rival,” gaining traction mid-last year. Musk sealed the Twitter deal for $44 billion in the fall of 2022.
While murmurs about Meta’s ambitions to shake up Twitter’s dominance emerged in December 2022, the chatter intensified with the rise of Threads.
Musk’s comment on X about Threads hinted at giving the Meta CEO unprecedented control, sparking the spark that set this ambitious battle in motion.
A tweet cautioning Musk about Zuckerberg’s newfound martial arts skills led to Musk’s infamous retort, “I’m up for a cage match if he is lol.”
The launch of Threads by Meta in July 2023 garnered a staggering 100 million users within five days.
Despite the fervor, Zuckerberg, in August, dismissed Musk’s eagerness for the fight, citing the absence of a confirmed date as a sign to “move on.”
For more on Benzinga’s Consumer Tech coverage, click here.
Explore Further: Mark Zuckerberg’s Take on Sam Altman’s Ambitious Chipmaking Vision: ‘It’s Out of This World’
Photos courtesy of Kathy Hutchins and Alexandros Michailidis on Shutterstock