Gary Zhou 
Key Points
- 😮 Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg might have a practice bout, suggested by a text exchange shared by Musk’s biographer.
- 🥊 Zuckerberg responds to Musk’s proposal for a real MMA fight, encouraging Musk to train and prepare for it.
- 🤣 Despite the serious nature of the exchange, Musk takes the conversation lightly, responding with laughter.
- 📅 Musk and Zuckerberg plan for the fight to be managed by their foundations and live-streamed on X and Meta platforms.
- 🇮🇹 The fight location will pay respect to Italy’s past and present, as agreed with Italian authorities.
- ✅ Zuckerberg confirms his readiness to fight and implies caution regarding Musk’s statements until an agreed date is confirmed.
Walter Isaacson, the author who recently wrapped up a comprehensive biography on Elon Musk, has shared intriguing details regarding the much-anticipated clash between the heads of Tesla and SpaceX and Mark Zuckerberg. According to a text message purportedly shared by Musk himself, a face-off, or at the very least a practice match, between the two CEOs might take place as early as Monday.
The alleged text exchange between the business magnates was unveiled on Twitter, with Isaacson explaining that he received a message from Elon Musk at 4:44 a.m. CT. Enclosed in the message was a screenshot supposedly depicting a conversation between the two CEOs. The conversation indicated that Musk inquired if Zuckerberg would be interested in a practice bout during the upcoming week.
In response, Zuckerberg expressed that if Musk remains open to the notion of an actual MMA match, he should undergo training and notify him once he’s prepared for the event. Zuckerberg reportedly added that he’s not inclined to generate excitement around something that might not materialize. Therefore, if Musk isn’t committed to arranging the fight in the near future, they should perhaps consider moving on.
Musk’s reply indicated that he would be present in Palo Alto on the upcoming Monday, suggesting the possibility of sparring with Zuckerberg within the confines of the Meta CEO’s Octagon. An obscured portion of the screenshot revealed a subsequent message from Musk, wherein he confessed to not having engaged in much practice lately, except for a recent encounter with well-known podcaster and AI researcher Lex Fridman.
Although Zuckerberg’s response in the alleged text exchange appeared to convey a serious tone, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX appeared to take the conversation lightly. Isaacson’s social media post displayed the biographer’s succinct “wow” in response to the screenshot of the text exchange between the two CEOs. Musk countered with a laughing emoji, indicating his lighthearted approach.
Recent updates from both Musk and Zuckerberg have surfaced regarding the much-anticipated fight. Musk shared on platform X that the event would be overseen by their respective foundations, not by UFC, and it would be live-streamed on X and Meta platforms.
Musk’s statement read, “The fight will be organized by both my and Zuck’s foundations (not UFC). The livestream will be available on this platform and Meta. The visual backdrop will transport everything within the camera frame to ancient Rome, embracing a completely traditional setting. I’ve had conversations with Italy’s Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture, and they’ve agreed on a grand location. Every aspect of the event will pay homage to Italy’s rich past and dynamic present.”
On the other side, Zuckerberg shared in a Threads post that he has been prepared for the challenge since the day Musk issued it. “I’m deeply invested in this sport, and I’ve been prepared for this confrontation since the moment Elon threw down the gauntlet. As soon as he settles on a concrete date, you’ll hear it directly from me. Until then, please consider any statements from him as not having been finalized,” remarked Zuckerberg.
