"That was real": UFC President Dana White reveals how close Elon Musk & Mark Zuckerberg came to fighting at Colosseum
UFC CEO shares new details on the $150 million super-fight that almost happened.
Dana White, during the UFC Vegas 119: Post- Fight Press Conference, revealed just how close the proposed Elon Musk versus Mark Zuckerberg fight came to becoming reality, while also explaining why plans to stage the event at Romeās iconic Colosseum ultimately fell apart.
The UFC CEO made the comments while discussing the enormous costs associated with hosting major events in historic locations. White noted that even the groundbreaking UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House pales in comparison to what a Colosseum show would have required financially.
According to Dana White, the White House event cost approximately $60 million to stage. However, a potential event at the Colosseum would have carried a staggering $150 million price tag, making it one of the most expensive combat sports spectacles ever conceived.
The revelation offers fresh insight into one of the most talked-about celebrity fight possibilities in recent memory, as Musk and Zuckerberg publicly entertained the idea of settling their rivalry inside a cage.
Dana White says Musk and Zuckerberg were willing to pay
White explained that the discussions were far more serious than many people realized. In fact, he spent weeks personally involved in negotiations surrounding the proposed matchup.
Speaking about the possibility of using the Colosseum for the teased showdown between the two tech Billionaires, White said:
āItās impossible [to do an event there]. I was negotiating the deal for Zuckerberg and Musk. The Colosseum wanted $150 Million. That money was going to fund to restore all the iconic places in Italy. Those two were gonna put up the money for the Colosseum.ā
The UFC boss revealed that the proposed fee would have gone toward restoration projects for several historic Italian landmarks. Despite having two of the worldās wealthiest individuals willing to cover the cost, the financial demands ultimately proved too difficult to justify.
Whiteās comments also reinforce previous claims that the Elon Musk versus Mark Zuckerberg showdown was not merely internet speculation. Behind the scenes, serious discussions were taking place regarding venue selection, logistics, and financing.
The revelation highlights just how ambitious Whiteās vision has become in recent years. From hosting a UFC card at the White House to exploring the possibility of staging a fight inside one of the worldās most famous ancient structures, the UFC president continues to push the boundaries of what combat sports events can look like.
Dana White teases huge numbers for the UFC White House event
While the Colosseum dream never materialized, White remains focused on the success of UFC Freedom 250. The UFC CEO recently teased massive global viewership figures for the White House card, which are expected to be released next week. White did not hold back when discussing what he believes the event achieved.
āItās the biggest thing that weāve ever done. The biggest thing ever for the sport,ā White said.
Those comments have generated significant anticipation among fans and industry observers alike. Many are eager to see whether the official numbers support Whiteās bold claims.
Adding another layer to the conversation, former UFC star Ronda Rousey recently suggested that her Netflix event generated even greater attention than the White House card. That debate is likely to continue until the official viewership figures are released.
For now, however, White appears confident that UFC Freedom 250 will be remembered as one of the most significant events in the promotionās history.
Did Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg seriously plan to fight?
According to Dana White, the discussions were real, and he personally spent weeks negotiating the proposed matchup.
Why didnāt the fight happen at the Colosseum?
White stated that hosting the event at Romeās Colosseum would have cost approximately USD 150 million, making the project financially difficult to execute.
How much did UFC Freedom 250 cost compared to the Colosseum proposal?
Dana White revealed that the White House event cost around USD 60 million, while the proposed Colosseum event would have required roughly USD 150 million.
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