It’s unlikely to happen, but it should. Surely, it must happen. Surely, two billionaires with a sharp eye for a lucrative deal can’t miss this one. Imagine the fists, elbows and billions flying – what a spectacle!
Musk v Zuckerberg?
I am talking about the strange story that emerged this week that tech billionaires Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have agreed to fight each other in a no-holds-barred cage match.
It all started when Musk posted a message on his social media platform Twitter saying he was “up for a cage fight” with Zuckerberg- the owner of Facebook and Instagram.
To which Zuckerberg posted a screenshot of the tweet with a request for a location. As quick as a flash, Musk shot back with Vegas Octagon – a fenced-in ring used for Ultimate Fighting Championship in Las Vegas.
I am the Walrus!
But Musk, who will turn 52 this month, then tweeted one of his supposed moves in the ring – The Walrus.
“This is where I lie on top of my opponent and do nothing,” he said, according to the BBC. A sign that the challenge may not be all that serious.
Every week UFC fighters go at each other like fury in a growing sport that is pushing close to a billion dollars a year in sponsorship.
What price is the fight?
Fighters earn up to $250,000 a bout and this is where I think Musk and Zuckerberg are missing an opportunity here.
For a start there could be the streaming and TV rights that could yield billions – there can be few people around the world who would want to miss this one. Then, Tickets, associated advertising, branding rights and sales are on the side, like a behind-the-scenes documentary.
The two tech wizards could make more in one night than they made in the first year of their businesses.
Who would win? I know Zuckerberg, a relative spring chicken at 39, has gone on record to say he is accomplished at martial arts. I don’t know how far that would get you in UFC, but it certainly is something Musk should think about.
For my money, Musk would, despite his senior years, would be the favourite for the bout. Simply, because Musk is a veteran of the South African school system where only the tough survive. He saw the rough side of the bullies and dirty fighting at his time at high school in Johannesburg and legend has it they once threw the future billionaire down a staircase.
Musk would have grown up with skop, skiet and donder, in Afrikaans, kick shoot and thunder: the South African street creed of he who hits first, laughs last. Undoubtedly the referee would raise Musk’s fist at the end of the bout.
But forget about pride, think of the billions. Surely these billionaires should give it a thought; but, if they do, I recommend they take lots of breaks, drink plenty of water and have medical rescue standing by.
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