David Bridges
Mark Zuckerberg’s love for his newfound mixed martial arts hobby apparently hasn’t captivated his wife to the same degree.
The Facebook founder’s philanthropist wife, Priscilla Chan, was seen grimacing and writhing in agony as she could barely stand the sight of two UFC fighters going at it in the ring in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Zuckerberg and Chan were ringside at the Apex in Las Vegas, where they watched an 11-fight card on Saturday.
The undercards were a build-up to the main event, which saw women’s strawweight contender Yan Xiaonan defeat jiu-jitsu specialist Mackenzie Dern.
Chan’s pained expressions and writhing facial features during the match went viral, generating millions of views online over the weekend.
Zuckerberg’s appearance at the Apex was a badly kept secret last week after Dern told reporters that she heard the Meta CEO was renting out the complex, which holds some 500 people.
Dern’s comments and other reports fueled speculation that Zuckerberg, who has taken up jiu-jitsu training while working with a professional mixed martial artist, would step into the ring himself on Saturday. Alas, that did not happen.
“I know Mark Zuckerberg rented out the whole event,” Dern said on Saturday.
“I know he’ll be there, but I don’t know if it’s literally him, his wife or if he’ll have friends — some type of party,” Dern told the Disney-owned sports news outlet ESPN, which aired Saturday’s event.
“But from someone who wanted a main event with a crowd, [it’s now] going to be very, very private.”
MMA insider Ariel Helwani also revealed on his podcast that he was informed by a “very good source, very close to the event” that the UFC’s decision to close the venue to press and spectators had “something to do with Mark Zuckerberg.”
However, UFC President Dana White tried to punch a gaping hole in their claims, tweeting: “Mark Zuckerberg did NOT rent out the UFC Apex. That’s total bulls–t.”
The 39-year-old tech mogul revealed to Joe Rogan last month that he has taken up mixed martial arts training.
Last month, Zuckerberg posted video on his Instagram showing him sparring with jiu-jitsu black belt holder Khai Wu.
Zuckerberg and other Silicon Valley executives including Palantir CEO Alex Karp and PayPal boss Dan Schulman have been turning to mixed martial arts training to relieve stress.
Wu told The Information that he has been practicing with Zuckerberg and other “jiu-jitsu nerds” at the Guerilla Jiu-Jitsu Academy in San Jose.
Two weeks ago, Zuckerberg, 38, announced on his Instagram page that he and Chan, who first met during their years at Harvard University, were expecting their third child together.
