Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg's Cage Fight To Be Held At 'Epic Location' In Italy

While any clash between the two tech titans has yet to be formally declared, Musk stated on his X social media network (previously known as Twitter) that plans were in the works.

Elon Musk.

Source : Getty

Elon Musk announced on Friday that his much-anticipated cage battle with Mark Zuckerberg will take place in Italy, as officials confirmed talks about holding a "great charity event," news agency AFP reported. While any clash between the two tech titans has yet to be formally declared, Musk stated on his X social media network (previously known as Twitter) that plans were in the works.

Referring to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Musk tweeted: "I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture. They have agreed on an epic location."

The fight will be managed by my and Zuck’s foundations (not UFC).

Livestream will be on this platform and Meta. Everything in camera frame will be ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all.

I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture. They have agreed on an epic location.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 11, 2023

Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italy's Culture Minister, admitted talking with Musk about "how to organise a great charity event evoking history," but stated any match "will not be held in Rome."

Musk appears to be hoping that the battle would take place in the old Colosseum, a UNESCO World Heritage site, after blogging about the proposal in late June.

Sangiuliano stated in a statement that any event with Musk would raise "a huge sum, many millions of euros, (that) will be donated to two important Italian paediatric hospitals."

Musk said: "everything done will pay respect to the past and present of Italy" and that proceeds will "go to veterans."

"It will also be an opportunity to promote our history and our archaeological, artistic and cultural heritage on a global scale," he was quoted by AFP in its report.

He stated that the cage match would be overseen by foundations operated by himself and Zuckerberg, rather than by the UFC, a mixed martial arts promoter located in Las Vegas.

Dana White, who is still interested in taking part in the event, told Mike Tyson's podcast last week that he believes the bout would produce $1 billion in revenue.

The two internet titans, who have periodically sparred from afar, became direct rivals in early July, when Zuckerberg's Meta unveiled its Twitter-like Threads platform.

Later that day, Musk wrote a remark in Latin that translates as "it is delightful to play the fool occasionally."

Musk did not specify a date for the intended battle, but he did say he could require "minor surgery" to fix a "problem with my right shoulder blade rubbing against my ribs."

"Recovery will only take a few months," he added.

The world's wealthiest person has a titanium plate that connects two vertebrae, but he claimed Friday that it is now "not an issue."

Zuckerberg, a martial arts aficionado who has competed in jiujitsu matches, did not immediately respond.