The highly publicized, yet ultimately unrealized, fight between tech moguls Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg continues to spark debate in the combat sports world. UFC Hall of Famer Matt Serra recently weighed in on the potential matchup, offering a blunt assessment that Musk may be seriously underestimating the power of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

During a ‘Fight Companion’ segment for UFC 312 on The Joe Rogan Experience, Serra didn’t hold back when discussing Musk’s confidence in his ability to fight.

“I’ll tell you right now, if he… if he fought Elon Musk and Elon Musk is sleeping on the Jiu-Jitsu… I know – sometimes when you hear Elon Musk talking about the fighting you’re like oh sh*t… stick to the f**king rockets, buddy!”

Serra’s comment underscores a sentiment that many in the martial arts community share—tech money and bravado can’t replace years of disciplined training.

Zuckerberg’s Jiu-Jitsu Evolution

Unlike Musk, Zuckerberg has taken a serious approach to martial arts training. The Meta CEO earned his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt in 2023 under world-renowned coach Dave Camarillo. He has also trained with elite grapplers, including multiple-time IBJJF and ADCC champion Mikey Musumeci, to refine his skills on the mat.

Beyond physical training, Zuckerberg has credited martial arts with shaping his perspective on business and leadership. Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience, he explained how training has helped him balance the hyper-competitive corporate world:

“I’ve been surrounded by women my whole life. The masculine energy is good. Society has plenty of that, but corporate culture is really trying to get away from it.”

This immersion in Jiu-Jitsu is what makes experts like Serra believe that Zuckerberg would have a clear edge over Musk in an MMA bout.

The Billionaire Bout That Never Was

The rivalry between Musk and Zuckerberg isn’t just confined to the cage—it extends to their business empires. The two have been at odds since 2016, when a SpaceX rocket carrying a Meta satellite exploded on the launch pad, leading to public criticism from Zuckerberg. The competition intensified in 2023 when Meta launched Threads, a direct challenger to Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), and when Zuckerberg surpassed Musk on Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index.

At the height of their tension, the idea of a fight between the two billionaires became a media frenzy. UFC President Dana White was even involved in negotiations, with talk of hosting the event at Rome’s Colosseum. Meanwhile, social media star Jake Paul offered to fund a $100 million charity bout. However, after much hype, the fight never materialized.

Serra’s Prediction: Zuckerberg by Submission

If the fight had gone down inside the cage, Serra believes it wouldn’t have been a striking battle. Instead, the former UFC champ predicted a swift finish on the ground, where Zuckerberg’s grappling skills would dominate.

“I say Zuckerberg wins by a rear naked chokehold in the first round.
I don’t think his [stand-up] striking is going to crack an egg, but I think he’s smart and will close the distance in grappling on the ground.”

For Musk to stand a chance, Serra said he’d need to focus heavily on wrestling and takedown defense.

“Musk would have to try to either work tremendously on his wrestling to keep off the ground or take some lessons in Jiu-Jitsu.
He also needs to develop one hell of a sprawl.”

Fighting: The One Thing Money Can’t Buy

So why would two of the world’s most powerful tech figures even entertain stepping into a cage? According to Serra, it’s because money can’t buy real toughness or fighting skills.

“People often want to be what they’re not.
They’re really smart, nerdy guys, so it doesn’t surprise me that they want to fight in the cage.
It’s like living out something their money can’t buy.”

Whether Musk and Zuckerberg will ever actually settle their differences in an MMA fight remains uncertain. But if they do, Serra—and much of the martial arts world—believes that Jiu-Jitsu will be the deciding factor.

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