Elon Musk’s much-anticipated cage match with tech rival Mark Zuckerberg is shaping up to be an epic showdown, with Italy serving as the backdrop for the battle. Musk recently tweeted that he had reached out to Italy’s leader and culture minister to secure a historic location for the clash, but it seems the Eternal City of Rome is off the table.
In a friendly phone conversation with Elon Musk, Italian culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano discussed their shared passion for the history of ancient Rome. Together, they are exploring the possibilities of organizing a charitable event that pays homage to the historical significance of the sites involved. However, Sangiuliano confirmed that Rome would not be the venue for the fight.
The feud between Musk and Zuckerberg began when Musk tweeted about being up for a cage fight, to which Zuckerberg responded with a challenge to send me location. The ball started rolling as Zuckerberg’s team reportedly contacted Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White, who then reached out to Italian officials to discuss potential venues.
Amidst the rumors, Musk cryptically tweeted a potential date for the clash, referencing the infamous death of Gaius Julius Caesar on the Ides of March, March 15. However, Sangiuliano’s statement makes it clear that the fight won’t be taking place in Rome.
Despite this setback, Musk seems determined to find an epic location in Italy for the showdown. He tweeted in Italian, stating it is sweet to be lost in the place. It remains to be seen where exactly the fight will take place.
Both Musk and Zuckerberg have been training for the battle, seeking guidance from Lex Fridman, an artificial intelligence researcher at MIT who also has a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu. While Musk may have a size advantage over Zuckerberg, the Facebook co-founder has been training in MMA gyms for months, and even won his first amateur Brazilian jujitsu tournament.
However, there’s an additional hurdle for Musk to overcome. He recently revealed a shoulder problem that may require surgery and a recovery period of a few months. It remains to be seen whether this will affect the timing of the fight.
With the location still up in the air, and both contenders preparing for the battle both physically and mentally, the world eagerly awaits the moment when these tech titans step into the cage. Stay tuned for further updates on what promises to be an epic showdown between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg in Italy.
