What do I think of Mark Zuckerberg’s recent mixed martial arts (MMA) training, Elon Musk’s challenge to a cage match between the two, and public reports of a Musk/Zuckerberg fight that may well happen later this year, perhaps in the actual Roman Colosseum? I think that’s all great. Here’s why.
First, while the extraordinary Dana White and his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) have elevated MMA into a highly popular public sport over the last 20 years, it’s important to understand how important—how primal—MMA is in the story of our civilization.
MMA is the original combat sport; it was introduced to the actual Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC(!). The Greeks called it “pankration” (παγκράτιον), but it is the same thing: a combination of boxing and wrestling.
Read Full Article »
