Tensions between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk have escalated since the release of the social media app Threads. Speculations about a cage fight have been brewing since June, capturing the attention of both platforms' followers.
However, according to Zuckerberg's most recent update, it seems the cage fight may never happen, after the tech leader said it might be "time to move on."
How It All Started?
Zuckerberg is trained in mixed martial arts. In a recent Facebook post, he showed off his skills in his first Jiu-jitsu tournament, where he secured two medals for the Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu team.
About a month later, Elon Musk ignited the feud with a post on X post, challenging Zuckerberg in response to an X thread about Threads, which was yet to be launched at the time.
I’m up for a cage match if he is lol
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 21, 2023
Meta's CEO responded in an Instagram Story with a screenshot of Musk's tweet captioned "send me location," referencing a famous phrase from UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Several days later, UFC president Dana White further stoked the anticipation by sharing a video on Instagram wearing a “Zuckerberg vs Musk” shirt.
White told The New York Times he was ready to organize an exhibition match, saying it would become “the biggest fight in the history of combat sports.” According to White, the two billionaires agreed at the time to include a charity component to the fight.
The Fight Was to Take Place in August
In early August, Musk renewed excitement by posting on X about how he’s preparing for the fight by “lifting weights throughout the day.” Zuckerberg responded via Threads that he suggested August 26 for the fight, and that Musk was yet to confirm the date.
Post by @zuckView on Thread
On the same day, Musk announced plans for live-streaming the fight on X, with proceeds benefiting veterans.
However, Zuckerberg suggested “a more reliable platform” for live-streaming the fight while also expressing doubts about the fight materializing.
Several days later, Musk shared a screenshot of his text conversation with Zuckerberg, in which Meta's CEO told Musk to “train on his own,” in response to Musk’s invite to do a “practice bout” at Zuckerberg's home instead of a cage fight.
This is the full message: pic.twitter.com/UzbKoIkFOc
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 13, 2023
Zuckerberg Says "It's Time to Move On"
On Monday, Zuckerberg disappointed fans by announcing “it is time to move on” due to Musk's reluctance to confirm a date of the fight. The Meta CEO cited Musk's ambiguity in his commitments, from needing surgery to seeking a backyard practice.
"I'm going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously," Zuckerberg concluded. Commenting on his statement, Musk continued their virtual clash by calling Zuckerberg a "chicken."
Post by @zuckView on Threads
As the digital banter between the two billionaires continued, the fate of the much-anticipated cage fight has been momentarily shelved.
Edited by Nikola Djuric
