In a digital era where tech giants and their CEOs are constantly at odds, a recent online exchange has taken the concept of a corporate feud to an entirely new level. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), has accepted a challenge from SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk for a cage match, adding an unexpected twist to their ongoing rivalry.
The saga began on June 21, 2023, when a tweet about Facebook potentially developing a Twitter competitor sparked a heated exchange. Musk’s sharp critique was met with a warning from a Twitter user about Zuckerberg’s newfound interest in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Seizing the opportunity for drama, Musk proposed a cage match, to which Zuckerberg responded with an Instagram story saying, “Send Me Location.” Musk, in response to Zuckerberg’s comeback, tweeted, “If this is for real, I will do it”.
The surprising turn of events has been confirmed as not a joke by The Verge’s deputy editor, Alex Heath, placing the ball firmly in Musk’s court. A Meta spokesperson also confirmed the seriousness of Zuckerberg’s post, stating that “the story speaks for itself”.
But what are the odds for this unprecedented clash between two titans of tech? Zuckerberg, who has been training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu for about a year, recently bagged a gold and silver medal at his first competition, demonstrating his dedication and skill in the martial art. His coach, Dave Camarillo, has praised him as an extremely hard worker, noting that it’s rare to see someone successful in the business world also succeed in the physical realm of jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts (MMA).
Zuckerberg, who weighs around 70kg (154 lbs), has integrated a strict fitness routine into his daily schedule. He has completed the grueling ‘Murph Challenge’ workout, which involves a 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 bodyweight squats, and another 1-mile run, all while wearing a 20 lbs weight vest. The Meta CEO has said he does an hour or more of exercise each morning to handle the stress of his role, preferring exercises “that require full focus” such as MMA and calisthenics movements like pull-ups, push-ups, squats, and grappling work.
Despite the intense rivalry between these two tech moguls, their common thread is a dedication to pushing boundaries, whether that’s in the realm of technology, space exploration, or, as it turns out, physical combat. As the world awaits the location and date for this unprecedented cage match, one thing is clear: this is a face-off that won’t soon be forgotten.
However, the background, training, and fighting prowess of Elon Musk remain unknown. It would be interesting to delve further into Musk’s background to provide a balanced picture of this upcoming clash.
