Why Dana White dares Mark Zuckerberg to enter brutal UFC tournament
Why Dana White dares Mark Zuckerberg to enter brutal UFC tournament (Image Source: Getty Images)
Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White has issued a bold challenge to Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg, inviting the tech billionaire to compete in the organisation's latest combat sports venture.
White's invitation comes as the UFC launches its Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu division, marking a significant expansion beyond traditional mixed martial arts. The UFC boss believes Mark Zuckerberg's documented grappling skills and competitive spirit make him an ideal candidate for the new tournament format, which promises to deliver intense ground-based combat without the striking elements of conventional MMA fighting.
Mark Zuckerberg's martial arts journey attracts UFC attention
In recent years, Mark Zuckerberg turned his coding genius into a bona fide martial arts practitioner. The Facebook founder has practised with high-level fighters like former Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, middleweight challenger Israel Adesanya, and former champion Max Holloway. It is not only just a sport that Zuckerberg takes seriously, because he has been involved in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here]
Esseps
Learn More
Undo
In April 2025, Dana White became a member of Meta's Board of Directors, strengthening even more his business relationship with Zuckerberg, which established a special union between combat sports and technology. As the President of the UFC says, Mark Zuckerberg is a true fan of martial arts, and he and the President have a lot to talk about when it comes to fighting, so the invitation is not such a surprise. Dana White pointed out that the experience of the tournament puts Mark Zuckerberg in the best position to compete in the UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Dana White Says Mark Zuckerberg Has Open Invite to Compete in New BJJ Promotion | TMZ Sports
UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu creates new opportunities for celebrity competitors
The first UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was held on Wednesday as a part of International Fight Week in Las Vegas, with the bantamweight, lightweight, and welterweight divisions champions competing. The promotion follows a standard ten-point scoring system in mixed martial arts, utilising three five-minute rounds, and takes place in a specially designed dome that focuses on the action and movement. Dana White imagines that the platform should host not only high-level grapplers but also celebrities of notable status, and whose Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills are also legitimate.
White disclosed that successful tournament professionals, Mario Lopez and Tom Hardy, would also be invited into UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The idea of the promotion is to give the competitive grappling form and mainstream coverage like the UFC gave to mixed martial arts. The approach that White has been taking is making interesting match-ups between sporting legality and entertainment, so it is possible that Mark Zuckerberg would face other celebrity practitioners.
Supporters follow the UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu shows through the Fight Pass streaming system created by the organisation, and a few events on YouTube. The promotion will also be ongoing, with frequent tournaments anticipated in 2025.
Also Read:
How Episode 5 results flipped pressure on Daniel Cormier vs Chael Sonnen rivalry
Dana White's invitation to Mark Zuckerberg represents the UFC's ambitious expansion into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, combining legitimate athletic competition with celebrity appeal to capture mainstream attention and establish dominance in the grappling world.
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
Kareena Kapoor Khan says Taimur and Jeh are constantly irritated with her: 'They love it when Saif is there'
Kareena Kapoor Khan shared how her sons, Taimur and Jeh, miss her during shoots, while their father Saif Ali Khan's fun, hands-on parenting wins them over with extra TV time and music sessions. Kareena also announced her upcoming film Daayra with Prithviraj Sukumaran, directed by Meghna Gulzar. Kareena Kapoor Khan has never shied away from discussing the ups and downs of parenting while managing a busy film career. In a recent candid chat with Vicky Kaushal, the actress opened up about how her sons, Taimur and Jeh, react when she's away for shoots, and how they light up when their father, Saif Ali Khan , is home. Kareena revealed that while she tries to maintain discipline, it's Saif's fun-loving, hands-on parenting that wins their sons over every time. Children's Reaction to Her Absence When Vicky asked Kareena how her children cope when she is away for shoots. Kareena shared that "It gets tough. This year, Saif went out and shot for two films, so they were used to Mumma being home. Now, if I go to shoot—like for a couple of days, when I'm shooting for ads, 10–15 days a month—they're constantly irritated. They're always like, 'Where is Amma?''. Saif's Role as a Hands-On Father The actress mentioned that her children really enjoy it when Saif is around because he is a loving and hands-on father. They get extra TV time when he is with them, and her elder child loves playing guitar and drums with Saif. She revealed, "They love it when Saif is there, because Saif is such a lovely father, and he is a hands-on father. Also, they get extra TV time when he is around. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Worst Home Items That People Own, Ranked CleverClassic Undo My elder one loves to play guitar and drums with Saif. When I am not around, they always get extra TV time. The father always spoils them; otherwise, I am always like 'Go to bed''. The Journey of 'Saifeena' Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, affectionately known as 'Saifeena,' began their journey together after meeting on the set of 'Tashan' in 2008. Their relationship grew over time, leading to their marriage in 2012. They have two sons: Taimur, born in 2016, and Jehangir, who arrived in 2021. Upcoming Project On the work front, Kareena Kapoor is teaming up with Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran for the first time in the upcoming film 'Daayra'. Under Meghna Gulzar 's direction, the project delves into challenging themes of crime and justice, revealing harsh societal realities. The film, currently in pre-production, is co-written by Meghna, Yash Keswani, and Sima Agarwal.
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
Exclusive - When Saanand Verma realised ‘I Like It' had become a household catchphrase
Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai is not only one of the longest-running shows on Indian television, but it has also earned cult status, adored by audiences. While the show's hilarious tracks continue to entertain, it's the quirky characters and their memorable catch phrases that have truly captured viewers' hearts. One such character is Anokhe Lal Saxena , played by talented actor Saanand Verma . His trademark line, 'I like it,' has taken social media by storm, inspiring countless memes and video edits. Speaking about the popularity of his dialogue, Saanand Verma aka Anokhe Lal Saxena shared, 'It honestly feels amazing when people appreciate my character, especially the dialogue. The kind of love and reactions I receive are overwhelming, and I truly enjoy them. It reflects the audience's deep affection for the show. ' Recalling the first time he realised the cultural impact of the catchphrase, Saanand said, 'I remember one time while I was in Mumbai, I happened to meet a neighbour who is a police officer by profession. During a casual conversation, he narrated an incident that completely caught him off guard. He was scolding his son quite seriously when the boy calmly responded with, 'I like it.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo My neighbour was baffled and asked his son why he would say that. That's when his wife explained that it's a popular dialogue from Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai, used by the character I play — Saxena! After that, he started watching the show himself." He further added, "Today, it's his favourite show, and I think he has become one of his favourite characters too.' Saanand added, 'Fan interactions, whether in everyday life or any gatherings, always leave me touched. Even at Bollywood parties and social events, people come up to me quoting the dialogue and appreciating the role. It's a surreal feeling to be recognised not just as an actor, but as a character that people have truly embraced. The love I get from my audience… I like it.' "All a blessing" | Saanand Verma on working in Bhabhi Ji Ghar Pe Hai, OTT experience and Vijay 69
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
"On the first day, we were both a little shy..." Konkona Sen Sharma talks about working with Pankaj Tripathi in 'Metro...In Dino'
Ahead of the much-awaited release of the upcoming film Dino, actor Konkona Sen Sharma has opened up about her experience shooting with Pankaj Tripathi for the first time. Ahead of the much-awaited release of the upcoming film Dino, actor Konkona Sen Sharma has opened up about her experience shooting with Pankaj Tripathi for the first time. Sharma shared that she feels glad to finally work with Tripathi, with whom she never got a chance to share screen space despite both being in the industry for a long time. The actress also shared how their first day on set together felt formal, but they quickly grew comfortable with each other. While speaking to ANI, the actor said, " Dino is quite different from Life in a Metro, because Life in a Metro was made 17-18 years ago. We were younger back then, so the story was different. And I feel lucky to work with Mr. Pankaj Tripathi." "It was a lot of fun. Actually, I wasn't sure what to expect because, even though both of us have been working for so long, we hadn't worked together before. But he is very popular, and I've seen his work--I like it a lot. So, I was happy to be working with him. On the first day, I think we were both a little shy and formal. Anurag always says this very funnily: 'On the first day, we were both a little shy, a little formal. Mr. Pankaj used to say "Namaste" and all that. I'm also a bit like that--kind of old-fashioned. But we quickly became comfortable with each other," she added. The trailer of Dino was released earlier this month. Along with Kher and Gupta, the film also stars Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan , Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Ali Fazal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brindisi: AudioNova cerca per un test 700 persone nate prima del 1974 AudioNova Undo The trailer gave us a sneak peek into the love stories of the couples--Sara Ali Khan and Aditya Roy Kapur, Konkona Sen Sharma and Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Fatima Sana Shaikh, Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta. It follows four different love stories of couples--young, old, and middle-aged--living in a metro, and serves as the spiritual sequel to Anurag Basu 's 2007 film Life in a... Metro. The movie will be released in theatres on July 4.
