Tech titan Mark Zuckerberg revealed his passion for Mixed Martial Arts in a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast. Despite the high stakes of leading Meta, Zuckerberg has found time to train with some of the best fighters in the world, leaving fans and critics alike intrigued by his dedication to the sport.
Mark Zuckerberg, known globally for his role in creating and leading Facebook, now Meta, has been making headlines for a very different reason: MMA. Training with top fighters such as Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski, Zuckerberg’s commitment to the sport is no secret among those in the know.
His rigorous training sessions have prepared him to compete in high-stakes environments, both in the boardroom and the octagon.
Inside Zuckerberg’s Secret Jiu-Jitsu Tournament
His dedication to the sport has even led him to disguise himself and compete in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament incognito. During the tournament, Zuckerberg registered under his first and middle names, donning sunglasses, a hat, and a mask.
The moment his identity was revealed upon being called to the mat left his opponent and spectators in disbelief. Joe Rogan couldn’t help but laugh when Zuckerberg shared the surreal experience on his podcast.
“I registered under my first and middle name, so people didn’t know who I was,” recounted Zuckerberg. “I had like, sunglasses and a hat and I wore a COVID mask. … It wasn’t until they called our names to step on the mat that I took all the stuff off and they were like, ‘Huh?!‘”
After securing a submission victory, Zuckerberg recounted how his opponent was utterly bewildered by the entire scenario:
“Afterwards the opponent was like, ‘I think that was Mark Zuckerberg who just submitted me.’ … And the coach was like ‘What?! You’re fighting Mark Zuckerberg, get back in there! Go fight him!’ It’s like, ‘No, he just submitted me”.
Serious Knee Injury Sidelines Zuck’s MMA Debut
Despite his enthusiasm, Zuckerberg’s journey has not been without setbacks. He recently disclosed that an ACL injury, which he sustained while training MMA, and which required surgical intervention.
This injury has delayed his MMA debut, but it hasn’t dampened his spirits. Despite the setback, Zuckerberg continues to train and hopes to make his professional MMA debut in the future.
“I’m either doing general fitness, or a kind of MMA [discipline], and do sometimes grappling, sometimes striking, or some both.” Zuck shared. “But it got to the point where I tore my ACL training. At that point, I wasn’t integrated between my weight training and my fighting training, so I think I was probably overdoing it.”
Balancing his professional responsibilities with his passion for MMA has been challenging for Zuckerberg. He expressed his desire to compete but acknowledged that 2025 will be a busy year for him due to developments in artificial intelligence.
“I want to [fight],” Zuckerberg revealed to Rogan. “And I think I probably will, but we’ll see.”
While he is focused on his business, Zuck hasn’t ruled out the possibility of stepping into the cage one day. It seems probable that we might see a Mark Zuckerberg MMA debut in 2025!
The Jiu-Jitsu Effect
According to Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg’s time spent training on the mats has led to a shift in his political leanings. The discipline and perseverance required in BJJ (and MMA) have provided Zuck with a new lens through which he views both personal and professional challenges.
“Mark Zuckerberg started doing jiu-jitsu and nothing turns you into a libertarian like Jiu-Jitsu.” Rogan said on Zuck before their podcast. “Nothing turns you into a person who values hard work, and discipline, and struggle like Jiu-Jitsu.”
It’s an exposure of character. Nothing else is like it. You expose character in a way that’s almost impossible, even with other martial arts.”
As Zuckerberg continues to balance his dual passions for technology and MMA, fans eagerly await the day he steps into the ring. Whether he will make his MMA debut remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Mark Zuckerberg’s journey is far from over.
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