Dana White Welcomes Mark Zuckerberg to UFC BJJ: “He Could Literally Come Here and Fight”

UFC CEO Dana White has set his sights on shaking up the world of competitive grappling, and he’s open to more than just elite athletes taking part. As the UFC prepares to launch its new platform — UFC BJJ 1 — this week, White not only laid out his ambitious vision for the sport of jiu-jitsu, but also left the door open for none other than Mark Zuckerberg to step onto the mat under the UFC banner.

Although the much-hyped potential MMA clash between Zuckerberg and Elon Musk never came to fruition, White hasn’t ruled out Zuckerberg’s competitive debut — albeit in a different format. With UFC BJJ 1 marking the promotion’s first official venture into structured Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition, White is aiming to bring order and recognition to a discipline that, until now, has thrived in fragmented circuits around the world.

“I think so,” White responded when asked if UFC BJJ is meant to become the go-to platform for major grappling matchups. “And to educate people on the sport of jiu-jitsu, who these guys are, and to sort of organize it. When you think about it, if you know anything about jiu-jitsu, there’s tons of tournaments that go on all over the world... We’re gonna come in and say, ‘You can be considered one of the best in the world, but you can come fight the best at the UFC and win a world title.’”

UFC BJJ 1 will introduce champions in three weight classes — bantamweight, lightweight, and welterweight — and serve as the starting point for what White hopes will become the gold standard of submission grappling. More than just crowning champions, White aims to rank athletes and bring clarity and structure to a sport that has long lacked centralized governance.

But perhaps most intriguing is White’s vision of UFC BJJ as a stage for not only elite grapplers but also celebrities and passionate practitioners from other fields.

“There’s actors and athletes. You’d be surprised. Zuckerberg has competed in tournaments. Mario Lopez competes in tournaments. Tom Hardy competes in tournaments. This is a spot, anybody could come and compete here in jiu-jitsu,” White said.

Zuckerberg, known for his love of martial arts and commitment to training, has already competed in local BJJ tournaments and reportedly trains regularly with high-level instructors. White, who now holds a position on Meta’s board of directors, maintains regular communication with the Facebook founder, often discussing fights and the evolving state of combat sports.

“Yeah, we talk a lot about fighting, obviously,” White added. “If Mark keeps training and competing, he could literally come here and fight in UFC BJJ. 100 percent. Tom Hardy, Mario Lopez, and many, many other actors that are really good jiu-jitsu guys that nobody knows about.”

While Zuckerberg may never headline a UFC pay-per-view inside the Octagon, a UFC BJJ appearance feels increasingly plausible — and could mark a watershed moment for blending celebrity appeal with authentic martial arts culture. White’s open invitation signals a broader strategy of using star power to generate interest while maintaining the competitive integrity of the sport.

With UFC BJJ 1 set to launch a new era of grappling competition, fans can expect not only world-class technique but also some unexpected — and possibly high-profile — entrants to the mat.