The T-Mobile Arena was buzzing even before the first punch was thrown at UFC 320. Cameras panned across the crowd to show A-listers, fighters, and influencers, but one face stood out: Mark Zuckerberg. The Meta CEO, dressed casually and sitting front row, had arrived early, way before the main card began. Fans online couldn’t believe it. “Bro thinks he’s Theo Von,” one joked, recalling the comedian’s habit of showing up at the early prelims and watching the entire card from start to finish!

But while Zuckerberg’s early attendance was the talk of the night, it was Joe Rogan who turned it into comedy gold. As the cameras cut to the tech mogul during the broadcast, Rogan couldn’t resist slipping in a jab that had fans laughing across social media. With Alex Pereira headlining the night, Rogan quipped on-air, “Alex is probably asking why he’s shadow-banned.” The line was quick, clever, and perfectly timed, a nod to Pereira’s social media struggles and a sly dig at Zuckerberg’s company, Meta.

Adding to the hilarity, another clip soon surfaced online, this time of Mark Zuckerberg greeting Rogan mid-fight, leaning over the broadcast table to say hi. However, Mark Zuckerberg’s presence at UFC 320 wasn’t random. Over the past years, he’s gone from tech billionaire to full-blown martial arts enthusiast. The Meta CEO has competed in local jiu-jitsu tournaments, trains under renowned coaches, and even rolled with elite UFC fighters like Alexander Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya in Silicon Valley. And that’s not all.

On the business side of things, Threads has become the official social media partner of the UFC. Earlier this year, Meta also announced that Dana White would join their board of directors.

But beneath the laughter lies a curious question: could Zuckerberg’s growing role in combat sports make him more than just a fan? After all, his partnership with the UFC is deepening, his grappling skills are improving, and his appearances are becoming more frequent, and UFC boss Dana White wants to take it all a step further.

Dana White is open to Mark Zuckerberg and other celebrities getting on the mat for UFC BJJ

Earlier this year, White announced the launch of UFC BJJ, a grappling-focused organization designed to merge star power with submission skills. During an interview with TMZ, the UFC CEO couldn’t hide his excitement when asked about potential competitors. “There’s actors and athletes, you’d be surprised,” White said. “Zuckerberg has competed in tournaments. Mario Lopez competes in tournaments. Tom Hardy competes in tournaments. So, this is a spot anybody could come and compete here in jiu-jitsu.”

White’s tone was clear. UFC BJJ isn’t just another side project; it’s a stage where the worlds of Hollywood, tech, and professional fighting could collide. And at the center of that collision is Zuckerberg himself. White even added, “If Mark keeps training and competing, he could literally come here and fight in UFC BJJ, 100 percent.”

For those who’ve followed Zuckerberg’s martial arts journey, that statement doesn’t sound far-fetched. The Meta founder started training during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, quietly developing a love for combat sports. By 2023, he was already competing and winning in local jiu-jitsu tournaments. His enthusiasm hasn’t waned since.

And while Zuckerberg trains on the mat, his partnership with White extends far beyond it. In January, Meta announced that Dana White had officially joined its board of directors, alongside business heavyweights like Charlie Songhurst and John Elkann. “I’ve never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta’s board,” White said. “I am a huge believer that social media and AI are the future. I am very excited to join this incredible team and to learn more about this business from the inside. There is nothing I love more than building brands, and I look forward to helping take Meta to the next level.”

As such, Joe Rogan’s playful jab may have sparked laughs, but it also shone a light on something deeper: the unlikely bond between the fight world and Silicon Valley’s most famous CEO. What began as a viral one-liner about a “shadow ban” now symbolizes how far Mark Zuckerberg has come from tech visionary to possibly becoming a genuine martial arts participant under Dana White’s banner!