The Zuckerberg vs. Musk dream fight never materialized, but Mark Zuckerberg might still get his shot inside the UFC, this time on the mats.
This week marks a new chapter for Dana White and the UFC with the debut of UFC BJJ 1, the promotion’s first full-scale dive into competitive grappling. Unlike the Fight Pass Invitational events from the past, this event introduces official titles across three divisions, bantamweight, lightweight, and welterweight, backed by a clear mission to dominate Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu the same way UFC did MMA.
“We’re gonna come in and say, ‘You can be considered one of the best in the world, but you can come fight the best at the UFC and win a world title. You’ll be a world champion, everybody will be ranked, and put some structure to it,’” said White.
UFC BJJ 1 is more than just a launchpad for elite grapplers, it’s also open to high-profile personalities with real jiu-jitsu credentials. White has already named several actors and athletes who could easily fit in the mix. Among them is none other than Zuckerberg, who has quietly been building his reputation on the mats.
“Let me tell you something, there’s a lot of other people out there, too,” White said. “There’s actors and athletes. You’d be surprised. Zuckerberg has competed in tournaments. Mario Lopez competes in tournaments. Tom Hardy competes in tournaments. This is a spot, anybody could come and compete here in jiu-jitsu.”
White and Zuckerberg have built a close relationship, one that’s gone from business to combat sports. In April, White partnered with Meta to incorporate its tech into the UFC. Later, he joined Meta’s Board of Directors. The friendship has grown alongside Zuckerberg’s evolution as a martial artist. He’s trained with UFC icons like Alexander Volkanovski, Israel Adesanya, and Max Holloway, and has even cornered Volkanovski during a UFC title bout.
“Yeah, we talk a lot about fighting, obviously,” said White. “If Mark keeps training and competing, he could literally come here and fight in UFC BJJ. 100 percent. Tom Hardy, Mario Lopez, and many, many other actors that are really good jiu-jitsu guys that nobody knows about.”
With or without celebrities, White’s mission is to raise the stakes in grappling. He’s serious about showcasing the biggest BJJ matchups under the UFC banner. UFC BJJ 1 is just the beginning, and he’s ready to educate fans while giving structure to a sport that’s lacked centralized promotion.
“When you think about it, if you know anything about jiu-jitsu, there’s tons of tournaments that go on all over the world,” White explained. “There’s big ones, there’s real money involved. We want to organize it and spotlight who these guys are.”
The format is set to mirror MMA, with each match consisting of three five-minute rounds, judged using the traditional 10-point scoring system. All bouts will be held inside a custom-built UFC BJJ dome, designed specifically to keep the action fluid and intense.
Zuckerberg has already made his passion for combat sports public. From appearing cage-side to stepping onto the mat in regional tournaments, he’s gone far beyond the tech world. With White at the helm of this new BJJ venture, the timing feels right for Zuckerberg to officially step into the UFC’s competitive grappling arena.
Whether or not the Facebook founder competes, UFC BJJ 1 sets a tone. Dana White is serious about reshaping jiu-jitsu and he’s not shy about using big names like Zuckerberg to bring the sport into the spotlight.
