Former Meta Executive Shares How Mark Zuckerberg Encouraged Them to Try MMA Training

Mark Zuckerberg’s passion for MMA is such that he’s hired entire stadiums, engaged in sparring on a barge, had significant surgery to repair a combat-related injury, collected medals, and constructed a backyard octagon at his Ko’olau Ranch estate in Hawaii. As per a new book by Meta’s former global affairs president, Zuckerberg even encouraged some top executives to join him in the ring.

“Mark’s dedication to MMA is evident when he insisted one morning, during an offsite managerial meeting, that several of his high-ranking executives participate in a training session,” wrote Nick Clegg in his forthcoming book, How to Save the Internet (Penguin; November 11, 2025).

Fast Company highlights that, within the book, Clegg recounts a particularly awkward moment where he found himself pinned on the mat by a colleague in a “Domination Mount” position.

Clegg wrote it was “too close for comfort,” the outlet notes.

Official disclosures to Meta investors have highlighted that Zuckerberg, along with other executives, engages in various risky activities such as combat sports, extreme sports, and recreational aviation, which pose serious risks of injury or death.

The book also delves into the future of AI and the transformative impact of social media, but as noted by Semafor, this is not a revealing exposé on Meta’s internal operations.