NEW YORK: Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Meta, has grabbed attention beyond the technology world after sharing footage of his latest martial arts training session with UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili.
The video, filmed on a floating barge in the middle of a lake, showed Zuckerberg sparring with the professional fighter and quickly went viral on social media.
The Meta CEO shared the video titled “Round 2” on Instagram, showing him training shirtless in black-and-white gear against Dvalishvili while a referee supervised the full-contact session.
The footage captured an intense exchange between the two, with Zuckerberg and Dvalishvili trading punches and kicks during the practice. The UFC fighter was also seen lifting Zuckerberg and carrying him across the deck of the floating barge.
The unusual training location attracted additional attention when Zuckerberg’s wife, Priscilla Chan, unexpectedly appeared during the session while paddling past the barge on a kayak.
Mark Zuckerberg spars with UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili in the middle of a lake pic.twitter.com/iQTcBXgrql
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) August 9, 2026
Known by his nickname “The Machine,” Merab Dvalishvili is a former UFC bantamweight champion who won the title at UFC 306 and successfully defended it three times in 2025. He also holds the UFC record for the most takedowns.
The video quickly gained traction online, with social media users sharing mixed reactions. While some praised Zuckerberg’s commitment to fitness and martial arts, others responded with humorous comments about the unusual training setup and the challenge of sparring with a professional fighter.
One user joked, “The only thing missing is a Wi-Fi signal in the middle of the lake, because even Zuckerberg can’t stream his own knockout.”
Another user linked Zuckerberg’s training efforts to previous remarks by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk about a possible fight between the two billionaires.
The latest sparring session adds to Zuckerberg’s growing involvement in combat sports. He previously trained with UFC stars, including an 11-minute sparring session with Aljamain Sterling in December 2025 and a filmed training session with Alex Pereira in October 2025.
Zuckerberg’s continued interest in martial arts has created a new dimension to his public image, combining his technology background with his passion for competitive fighting and physical fitness.
