Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, two of the most powerful men in the world, may be looking to compete in their version of Celebrity Deathmatch.
The owners of Twitter and Facebook/Instagram parent company Meta have engaged in a war of words on social media that has resulted in a callout of sorts: a cage match to determine the ultimate winner of the social media world.
It comes after Musk tweeted he would be “up for a cage match,” with Zuckerberg posting a “send location” image on Instagram, copying the quote of former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Musk clapped back by offering “Vegas Octagon” for a fight while jokingly saying, "I have this great move that I call 'The Walrus', where I just lie on top of my opponent & do nothing.”
I’m up for a cage match if he is lol
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 21, 2023
Per Alex Heath of The Verge, this back-and-forth is not a joke. That is, at least on the side of Zuckerberg. Meta spokesperson Iska Saric told Heath, “The story speaks for itself.”
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Musk has no MMA experience. Zuckerberg has competed in jiu-jitsu tournaments, showcasing his skills across social media. Khai Wu, the MMA trainer of Zuckerberg, was recently signed to the PFL.
I have this great move that I call “The Walrus”, where I just lie on top of my opponent & do nothing
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 22, 2023
Why are Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg looking to fight?
Earlier this month, Meta discussed plans for a text-based social network that could compete with Twitter. It looks to be an alternative to the social platform, with a stable environment that can help users grow their audience.
Meta looks to make the app, coded “Project 92" A.K.A. "Threads," available soon. The news follows the various changes Twitter has been through since Musk took over, from mass cuts to paying for verification, among other policies.
“We’ve been hearing from creators and public figures who are interested in having a platform that is sanely run, that they believe that they can trust and rely upon for distribution,” Meta Chief Product Officer Chris Cox told The Verge.
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Musk tweeted a dig at Zuckerberg in response to the news. There was no further instigating between the two until the recent challenge.
How is Jake Paul involved with Elon Musk vs. Mark Zuckerberg?
Jake Paul is ready to take advantage of a potential opportunity.
The YouTuber and combat athlete offered Musk and Zuckerberg to fight under the Professional Fighters League banner. “The Problem Child” recently signed with the PFL as the Head of Fighter Advocacy. He also helped form the Super Fight division, where fighters make “at least” 50% of PPV sales.
“Elon I will gladly promote your fight against Zuck, we can do it in the PFL on ESPN+ for charity.”
Elon I will gladly promote your fight against Zuck, we can do it in the PFL on ESPN+ for charity. @elonmusk https://t.co/zFOdNyffjI
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) June 22, 2023
The PFL has not released a statement regarding Paul’s offer, and neither Musk nor Zuckerberg has responded.
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Paul is also the leader of Most Valuable Promotions, a boxing organization featuring the likes of Amanda Serrano and Ashton Sylve, hosting events showcasing the future under Most Valuable Prospects fight nights.