UFC CEO Dana White revealed that he previously explored the possibility of hosting a UFC event inside Rome’s iconic Colosseum, but the reported $150 million price tag ultimately caused him to walk away from the idea.
White discussed the potential event after being asked whether he would consider bringing a UFC fight to the historic venue. He said the UFC had been told it would cost around $150 million, with the money reportedly going toward a fund to restore other historic sites in Italy.
Despite the enormous cost, White said he would still be willing to make the event happen if a billionaire were prepared to cover the expense.
The comments come shortly after the UFC staged UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn, an ambitious event that reportedly cost around $60 million to stage. The success of that event demonstrated Dana White’s willingness to pursue unconventional venues for major UFC events.
Dana White Says Zuckerberg vs. Musk Fight Was Real
Dana White also revealed that he had seriously explored the proposed cage fight between Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk during their highly publicized feud in 2023.
The two billionaires publicly discussed fighting each other, with Musk initially challenging Zuckerberg and later suggesting the Colosseum as a potential location. Zuckerberg, who had competed in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, also trained with prominent MMA fighters during the buildup.
Although the fight never materialized, White said he spent two weeks working on the proposed matchup. His comments suggest the Colosseum was considered as part of those discussions before the reported cost made the idea impractical.
White has now made it clear that the UFC could still stage an event at the ancient venue if someone is willing to fund the massive expense.
Elon Musk Is Now the World’s First Trillionaire
Musk and Zuckerberg have seen their fortunes increase substantially since their 2023 feud.
Forbes estimates that Mark Zuckerberg is now worth around $198.2 billion, compared with roughly $103 billion in the summer of 2023.
Musk’s fortune has grown even more dramatically. Forbes estimates his current net worth at approximately $1.2 trillion, following the rise in the value of SpaceX. The valuation has made Musk the first person in history to reach trillionaire status.
That means the financial circumstances surrounding a potential Musk-Zuckerberg spectacle are vastly different from when the two first discussed fighting in 2023. While their proposed matchup never came together, Dana White’s latest comments show that the UFC remains open to staging an event at the Colosseum provided someone is willing to meet the extraordinary $150 million cost.
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