TLDR
- UFC President Dana White defended Mark Zuckerberg’s fighting abilities on The Skinny Confidential podcast
- White says Zuckerberg trains in MMA, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and surfs regularly
- The Meta CEO has competed in grappling tournaments and trains with professional fighters
- White warned internet critics that Zuckerberg would beat them in a fight
- White also revealed Elon Musk trained in Judo during his youth when discussing their failed matchup
UFC President Dana White issued a strong warning to anyone who underestimates Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s fighting abilities. White made the comments during an appearance on The Skinny Confidential podcast.
White joined Meta’s board of directors in 2025. Since then, he has witnessed Zuckerberg’s dedication to combat sports firsthand. The UFC boss made it clear that the tech billionaire is far more athletic than most people assume.
(1/2) #UFC boss Dana White warns 'internet tough guys': Don't mess with The Zuck, because Mark Zuckerberg might just beat you up. pic.twitter.com/ILxayjRdaT
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) November 11, 2025
“People talk about Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg is a great athlete,” White said. “He trains in MMA, he surfs, he does all this stuff.” White specifically called out people who mock Zuckerberg online. He warned them they would lose badly in any physical confrontation.
Zuckerberg’s Combat Sports Background
Zuckerberg has trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu for several years. He has competed in actual grappling tournaments against other practitioners. The Meta CEO regularly attends UFC events and has been spotted sitting cageside at major fights.
Zuckerberg has also trained with top professional fighters. He recently worked out with former UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira. He has also spent time with featherweight contender Alexander Volkanovski backstage at events.
White rented out the UFC Apex facility for Zuckerberg in the past. This allowed the tech executive to watch fights up close. Zuckerberg is not just a casual fan but an active participant in the sport.
The Facebook co-founder’s commitment extends beyond just training. He has shown up to competitions and tested his skills against other grapplers. White emphasized that this level of involvement separates Zuckerberg from casual hobbyists.
“Everybody thinks he’s some computer nerd,” White explained. “Mark Zuckerberg will beat the living out of you.” White directed his comments at what he called “telephone tough guys and internet tough guys.”
Failed Musk Fight Revealed Judo Background
White previously attempted to organize a fight between Zuckerberg and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The matchup would have taken place at the Colosseum in Rome. However, the bout never came together.
During negotiations for that fight, White learned about Musk’s martial arts background. The Tesla boss trained in Judo during his youth. “The thing is with Elon, too, during the promotion of that fight, was that he grew up doing Judo,” White said.
White described the experience of trying to promote the Zuckerberg-Musk fight as fascinating. He called it a fun moment in his career. The fight would have been one of the most unique celebrity matchups in combat sports history.
White has also worked with Zuckerberg on improving UFC’s ranking criteria. The partnership extends beyond just personal friendship. White values Zuckerberg’s analytical approach to problems.
Dana White: All of you telephone tough guys and internet tough guys who talk shit about Mark Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg will beat the shit out of everyone of you.pic.twitter.com/D1xyOgvx2W
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) November 10, 2025
The UFC president made his position clear in his final statement. “All of you internet tough guys that talk about Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg will beat out of every one of you,” White stated. “Just for the record.”
