The potential MMA “fight” between X and Meta bosses Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg could take place in Italy, Musk announced on Friday, with the Italian government confirming discussions about a “charity event.”
The two billionaires at the helm of the rival tech giants discussed a filmed mixed martial arts (MMA) joust between them at the end of June and, a few days ago, the date of 26 August was suggested.
“Everything in camera frame will be ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all,” Musk wrote on his X (former Twitter) platform, adding that the fight would be managed by their respective foundations.
“I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture. They have agreed on an epic location," he said, adding in a second message the single word “Gladiator.”
The Italian Minister of Culture, meanwhile, said he was discussing with Elon Musk the organisation of a “major charity event evoking history,” according to a statement on Friday.
“This will not be organised in Rome,” added Gennaro Sangiuliano, thus ruling out the possibility of a joust at the Colosseum, as Elon Musk had hinted at the end of June.
The sum that could be raised by the event, estimated at “several million euros, will be donated to two Italian children’s hospitals,” the minister added, hoping to use the occasion to “promote our history.”
“"Everything done will pay respect to the past and present of Italy," Musk said on the platform he bought last year for $44 billion.
“Dulce est desipere in loco”, “It is sweet sometimes to let reason sleep”, he also wrote, repeating - in Latin in the text - a quote from the poet Horace.
