For these of you who’re very “online,” you’ve got in all probability heard that there’s speak of a possible cage match between Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Tesla’s Elon Musk. Even in case you are not into fight sports activities, I guess most of you’ll tune in to see a battle between these two even when you hope each by some means lose. As Jalopnik’s resident martial arts dork, I’m going to make my prediction for who would come out with their hand raised.
So how did we even get to the purpose the place we’ve a nerd combat between two of Silicon Valley’s richest CEOs? For probably the most half, this all began, with reviews of Zuckerberg competing in some native Brazilian JiuJitsu tournaments and even successful just a few medals. There had been some reviews that Zuck was choked out in one other match however skilled observers appear to assume that he simply tapped out and misplaced that match.
I’ll say that Zuck will get numerous criticism for lots of issues, and rightly so. But selecting to coach and compete in BJJ at virtually 40 years outdated will get props from me. I studied varied martial arts as a child then stepped away from coaching round 25. I began BJJ two years in the past once I was 40 and getting commonly smashed on the mat by folks which can be youthful, stronger, and/or higher is just not what most would name an satisfying expertise… however for some odd cause I hold coming again to class.
All this hype round Zuck’s martial arts competitions finally made its technique to Elon, who has to Tweet about every part, and stated he’s “up for a cage fight if he [Zuckerberg] is.’ Zuck, on his Instagram, responded with “Send me location.” And as a result of the web is undefeated this potential grew to become the tech/movie star information we’re all speaking about. Because let’s be trustworthy right here, that is much more attention-grabbing than no matter VR silliness Meta is engaged on or the incessant dialog about how Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” is something however.
UFC President Dana White has gone on document to say that the 2 are “Dead serious” about this matchup and I’d assume that the UFC would need a piece of the motion if it truly involves fruition.
If it does occur, who do you have to place your wagers on? Let’s take a look at a “tale of the tape” as they are saying.
Elon Musk is 51 years outdated, and most sources say he’s about six toes tall, with a weight reported between 180-200 kilos. That is a considerable dimension benefit over Mark Zuckerberg who’s 38 years outdated, about 5-foot-7, and round 155 kilos. In Zuck’s current BJJ matches, he competed on the 149-pound weight restrict. We could possibly be a weight differential of as much as 50 kilos, and anybody who tells you that “size doesn’t matter” is both mendacity or has by no means been in an actual bodily engagement with somebody that had outweighed them.
Of course, if a combat had been to truly occur it’s most unlikely that any athletic fee would sanction a matchup with that enormous of a weight discrepancy. There is a cause skilled fighters have weight lessons. This battle would probably fall into some type of “catchweight” and maybe Zuck bulks as much as 165 and Elon slims all the way down to 180. That 15-pound distinction nonetheless favors Musk.
Zuck, however, brings extra to the desk to neutralize that dimension benefit. For starters, he’s youthful, and until a 52-year-old man is a devoted athlete, they will have a tough time in any bodily contest with somebody who’s 38.
The greatest, and most evident issue right here is coaching. Mark Zuckerberg has lately gotten hooked on martial arts coaching. He has been doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for a few 12 months and there may be some footage of him doing a little combined martial arts coaching as effectively. He did a digital spar with UFC champ Alex Volkanovski and has shared the mat with ONE FC grappling champ, and BJJ phenom Mikey Muscemeci.
Zuck additionally did some fencing in faculty, and whereas this matchup received’t contain swords, the athleticism, timing, and footwork of fencing does have some carry-over.
However, let’s not depend Musk out simply but. In an interview with Joe Rogan:
Musk described himself as a “bookish” child, the billionaire stated he studied karate, judo, and Brazilian jiu jitsu his youth.
The billionaire additionally wrestles. Last 12 months, Musk said on Twitter that he managed to “throw the world champion sumo wrestler” at a celebration. However, the expertise induced him to slide a disc in his neck.
Unlike Zuckerberg, Musk doesn’t appear to have saved up along with his coaching however having that base will definitely show useful if each events agree on a coaching camp to arrange for this matchup.
Overall, Zuckerberg has a skillset benefit whereas Elon brings an influence benefit. I give Zuck a 3-to-1 odds of victory over Elon. Some of us in all probability consider this isn’t even a lot of a contest, however Elon has a puncher’s probability and Zuck remains to be comparatively new to fight sports activities and there may be proof of him making newbie errors in competitors.
If Zuck can handle his distance correctly, and rating a superb takedown he has a very good probability of a first-round end by way of submission. On the opposite hand, if Musk does have some wrestling abilities as he claims, this could possibly be nearer than most individuals would predict. An honest wrestler can provide even an intermediate BJJ practitioner a run for his or her cash. If this does flip right into a grappling match and Zuck pulls off a kind of signature leglocks taught by “Darth Rigatoni” it’s unlikely Musk can have a solution for it.
So it appears Zuck is the betting favourite, with Elon nonetheless within the recreation if he can land the proper punch or brings some respectable grappling to the desk. As for the percentages of this combat truly occurring… I say it’s someplace round slim to none. But it could certain be enjoyable to look at.
Source: jalopnik.com