The UFC 298 event had a surprising guest Octagon-side, none other than Mark Zuckerberg, the renowned Facebook founder. Merab Dvalishvili, a star bantamweight fighter, was not taken aback by Zuckerberg’s presence as the tech billionaire had informed him days before via a text message. One of the highlights of the entire event was Merab’s remarkable move of lifting his opponent, Henry Cejudo, and slamming him on the canvas in close proximity to where Zuckerberg was seated. This led to an interesting conversation between Merab and the billionaire. TMZ Sports caught up with the 33-year-old contender to discuss Mark’s attendance at the event.
Behind The Scenes Interaction
Merab disclosed, “We are following each other on Instagram, and he did text me before the fight that he was coming. He told me ‘Don’t tell no one.’ I can keep a secret, of course.” Merab acknowledged seeing Zuckerberg in attendance as he made his way to the fight and took the opportunity to greet him in person. Although Zuckerberg was not an official corner for Merab, like he briefly was for Alex Volkanovski, he did share some of his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expertise with the fighter. Merab humorously stated, “I had a 4th corner that night. [Zuck] was giving me some tips when I was fighting.” It is worth noting that Mark has trained with various top fighters in the past, including Volk, Israel Adesanya, and Mikey Musumeci. Merab also mentioned that he had plans to train with Zuckerberg before the Facebook executive injured his ACL last year, but they intend to train together once he has recovered.
Future Prospects for Merab Dvalishvili
Aside from the billionaire’s presence, there is much more to Merab Dvalishvili, with many fans speculating that he may be next in line for a title shot after the upcoming fight between “Suga” Sean O’Malley and Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299. When asked if the UFC has indicated that he will face the winner of the said fight, Merab shared his thoughts on his preferred opponent and reasoning behind it. Additionally, following his victory over Cejudo at UFC 298, Merab was asked whether the 37-year-old should retire after suffering his second consecutive defeat, eliciting an unexpected response from the fighter.
Overall, Mark Zuckerberg’s unexpected appearance at UFC 298 added an element of surprise and excitement to the event, further showcasing the unique interactions and relationships that exist within the realm of mixed martial arts.
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