For these of you who’re very “on-line,” you will have 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 in the event 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 have now a nerd struggle between two of Silicon Valley’s richest CEOs? For probably the most half, this all began, with experiences of Zuckerberg competing in some native Brazilian JiuJitsu tournaments and even profitable a number of medals. There have been some experiences 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. However selecting to coach and compete in BJJ at nearly 40 years outdated will get props from me.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 after I was 40 and getting usually smashed on the mat by folks which might be youthful, stronger, and/or higher will not be what most would name an fulfilling expertise… however for some odd motive I hold coming again to class.

All this hype round Zuck’s martial arts competitions finally made its method to Elon, who has to Tweet about the whole lot, and mentioned he’s “up for a cage struggle if he [Zuckerberg] is.’ Zuck, on his Instagram, responded with “Ship me location.” And since the web is undefeated this potential grew to become the tech/superstar information we’re all speaking about. As a result of let’s be sincere right here, that is much more fascinating 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 “Useless critical” 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 have a look at a “story 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Elon Musk is 51 years outdated, and most sources say he’s about six toes tall, with a weight reported between 180-200 kilos.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 may be a substantial measurement benefit over Mark Zuckerberg who’s 38 years outdated, about 5-foot-7, and round 155 kilos. In Zuck’s latest BJJ matches, he competed on the 149-pound weight restrict. We might be a weight differential of as much as 50 kilos, and anybody who tells you that “measurement doesn’t matter” is both mendacity or has by no means been in an actual bodily engagement with somebody that had outweighed them.

After all, if a struggle had been to truly occur it’s most unlikely that any athletic fee would sanction a matchup with that giant of a weight discrepancy. There’s a motive skilled fighters have weight lessons. This battle would possible fall into some form 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, then again, brings extra to the desk to neutralize that measurement 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 most important, and most evident issue right here is coaching. Mark Zuckerberg has not too long ago gotten hooked on martial arts coaching. He has been doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for a couple of 12 months and there may be some footage of him doing a little blended martial arts coaching as properly. 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 school, and whereas this matchup received’t contain swords, the athleticism, timing, and footwork of fencing does have some carry-over.

Nevertheless, let’s not rely Musk out simply but. In an interview with Joe Rogan:

Musk described himself as a “bookish” child, the billionaire mentioned he studied karate, judo, and Brazilian jiu jitsu his youth.

The billionaire additionally wrestles. Final 12 months, Musk mentioned on Twitter that he managed to “throw the world champion sumo wrestler” at a celebration. Nevertheless, the expertise brought on him to slide a disc in his neck.

In contrast to Zuckerberg, Musk doesn’t appear to have stored up along with his coaching however having that base will definitely show useful if each events agree on a coaching camp to organize for this matchup.

General, 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 continues 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 great takedown he has a extremely good probability of a first-round end through submission. Then again, if Musk does have some wrestling abilities as he claims, this might be nearer than most individuals would predict. A good wrestler may give 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 type 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 precise punch or brings some first rate grappling to the desk. As for the percentages of this struggle truly taking place… I say it’s someplace round slim to none. However it might positive be enjoyable to observe.