Business | Schumpeter

The UFC, Dana White and the rise of bloodsport entertainment

There is more to the mixed-marital-arts impresario than his friendship with Donald Trump

A tattooed man punches a large head, with motion lines and stars showing impact. He wears orange shorts.
Illustration: Brett Ryder

“YOU LOOK thicker” sounds like a slight. Coming from Joe Rogan, the thick-set podcasting megastar and martial artist, it is high praise. Directed at Mark Zuckerberg, the uber-nerd behind Meta’s $1.5trn social-media empire, it may seem highly misplaced. But it is true. Mr Zuckerberg does look beefier than five years ago. During the covid-19 pandemic he got into Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a rough combat sport. Now he would like to see more “masculine energy” in the corporate world, too.

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This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “The king of the cage fight”

From the January 18th 2025 edition

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