Elon Musk’s highly anticipated showdown with Mark Zuckerberg may face further delay as the tech entrepreneur revealed he is undergoing medical assessments for his neck and back. The clash between the two billionaires was set to be a live-streamed spectacle, but Musk’s health concerns could potentially push back the event.
In a recent Twitter update, Musk addressed the uncertainty surrounding the schedule. He stated, “Exact date is still in flux. I’m getting an MRI of my neck & upper back tomorrow.” Musk also hinted that the fight might not happen until after a potential surgery, adding, “May require surgery before the fight can happen. Will know this week.”
The announcement comes after Musk’s initial excitement about live-streaming the match on Twitter and donating the proceeds to charity benefiting veterans. While Musk has been actively preparing for the event, his current medical situation poses a significant obstacle.
Despite the setback, Musk has been committed to his training regimen. Earlier, he engaged in a training session with Canadian UFC star Georges St-Pierre, podcast host Lex Fridman, and BJJ coach John Danaher. Musk even offered a glimpse of his workout routine through a live stream, where he demonstrated his strength by lifting weights.
According to reports, Danaher characterized Musk’s training as an uphill battle:
“So I’ve always found that, like by far and away, the most important thing two people get into a clash of skill level trumps everything else in terms of what’s going to determine the outcome skill. These are skill. That’s not to say other things aren’t relevant, but skill is more relevant.”
“From what I understand, he’s proposed opponent has almost two years of training. That’s a big advantage. So it would be an uphill battle. ”
The possibility of surgery is not new to Musk, as he previously suffered from neck and back injuries due to a sumo match he participated in. Reflecting on the match, he shared on Twitter, “Managed to throw him, but it cost me smashing my c5-c6 disc & 8 years of mega back pain! Finally fixed with c5-c6 disc fusion.” This history of injuries could be contributing to his current health concerns.
Zuckerberg, on the other hand, seems to have offered a date for the fight, although Musk has yet to confirm. Zuckerberg mentioned on Meta’s Threads, “I suggested Aug 26 when he first challenged, but he hasn’t confirmed. Not holding my breath.” It appears that the anticipation for this high-stakes bout continues to grow, despite the potential postponement.