The UFC CEO says he seriously explored staging the proposed Elon Musk versus Mark Zuckerberg fight at Rome’s iconic Colosseum, but the venue’s enormous financial demand ended the plan.
Dana White has revealed just how far the UFC went in exploring one of the most unusual events in combat sports history.
The UFC CEO said the promotion seriously considered staging a fight between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg inside Rome’s Colosseum during the pair’s highly publicized rivalry in 2023. According to White, he spent around two weeks negotiating the proposed matchup and even discussed the possibility of using the ancient Roman landmark as its setting.
The idea ultimately collapsed because of the cost. White said the Colosseum wanted approximately $150 million to host the event, with the money intended for a fund supporting the restoration of historic sites across Italy.
Dana White was asked recently whether the UFC could ever stage an event at the Colosseum. His answer made it clear that the venue remains attractive to him if the financial obstacle can be overcome.
Anybody that wants to put up the money for UFC to fight in the Colosseum, I’m in, White said.
The proposed fight began in 2023 when Musk challenged Zuckerberg to a cage fight as tensions between the technology billionaires escalated.
Zuckerberg took the idea seriously enough to train with elite MMA fighters, including former UFC champions Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski. Musk and Zuckerberg also discussed potential locations, with the Colosseum eventually emerging as one of the most spectacular possibilities.
White has now confirmed that the UFC was not simply watching the situation from the sidelines.
I was literally in my backyard for two weeks negotiating that fight, White said, describing discussions involving both billionaires.
The matchup never reached the cage. Zuckerberg later questioned Musk’s commitment to making the fight happen, and the proposed contest eventually disappeared from the sporting calendar.
Still, White’s latest comments reveal that the UFC had considered turning the unusual rivalry into a major global spectacle.
Why the Colosseum Came With a $150 Million Price Tag
The proposed cost was far beyond a conventional UFC venue agreement.
White said the approximately $150 million figure would have gone toward a fund for restoring historic landmarks across Italy. That made the potential event less about a standard venue rental and more about financing preservation work connected to Italy’s cultural heritage.
The Colosseum presents an obvious attraction for a promotion such as the UFC. Completed in AD 80, the ancient amphitheatre is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world and has an enduring association with combat and gladiatorial spectacles.
However, staging a modern UFC production at such a historic location would involve considerable logistical challenges. A major event requires lighting, broadcast equipment, security, athlete facilities and extensive production infrastructure. The venue also operates under strict preservation requirements because of its historical importance.
For the UFC, the potential global exposure would have been enormous, but the financial commitment was ultimately too high.
UFC Has Already Shown Its Appetite for Historic Venues
The Colosseum proposal also fits into Dana White’s broader approach to major UFC events.
In June 2026, the promotion staged UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn, creating one of the most unconventional settings in UFC history. Reports put the cost of that production at around $60 million, showing the scale of investment required when the promotion moves away from traditional arenas.
The Colosseum would have taken that strategy to another level.
Instead of placing the UFC inside a modern stadium or arena, the promotion would have brought a contemporary combat sports production into one of the oldest surviving symbols of organized spectacle.
That combination would have given the UFC an extraordinary visual identity while connecting modern MMA with one of the most famous venues associated with combat in history.
Musk and Zuckerberg Have Taken Very Different Paths
Although the proposed fight never happened, both men have remained closely connected to the world of technology and business.
Musk’s financial position has changed dramatically since 2023. Forbes declared him the world’s first trillionaire in June 2026 after SpaceX began trading publicly, although his fortune later fell below the trillion dollar mark as SpaceX shares declined.
Zuckerberg has also seen his fortune rise substantially since the original fight discussions.
More importantly for the UFC, Zuckerberg has developed a genuine relationship with the promotion. Meta has partnered with the UFC, giving the technology company a direct connection to the organization even though its founder never entered the Octagon against Musk.
Could the UFC Still Go to Rome?
For now, there is no confirmed UFC event at the Colosseum.
Dana White’s comments, however, suggest that the idea has not completely disappeared. The UFC has already demonstrated that it is prepared to spend heavily on landmark events when the opportunity makes sense, and White has openly said he would consider the Colosseum if someone were willing to cover the enormous cost.
The original Musk versus Zuckerberg fight is almost certainly gone. The possibility of a UFC event at the Colosseum is a different matter.
For White, the equation appears simple. If someone can solve the $150 million financial problem, the UFC could once again start looking toward Rome.
And this time, the headline would not need two billionaire fighters to make the venue the main attraction.
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