sport news Alex Volkanovski fights Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg ahead of bout against Islam ... trends now
It takes a brave man to step into the Octagon with Australian UFC champion Alex Volkanovski, but what about the Metaverse?
Volkanovski will step up a weight division to take on lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 in Perth this Sunday and has been friendless with the bookies, drifting out to almost 4-1.
Perhaps that is why Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg had the insane idea to challenge the Wollongong featherweight champion of the world in an MMA bout.
This was no ordinary bout, however.
Zuckerberg invited Volkanovski to spar with him in the Metaverse, the virtual reality world the Facebook boss hopes will become the next frontier of social media.
The pair were wired up in motion-capture suits and their avatars squared off in a virtual arena.
Zuckerberg proved he has some MMA moves with Volkanovski declaring: 'good counter too, how good was that counter?'.
The bout quickly ended as the Aussie took down the Facebook guru, with Zuckerberg saying: 'go get that second belt'.
Volkanovski holds an open training session for fans and media during the UFC 284 Open Workouts at Elizabeth Quay
Islam Makhachev of Russia poses for a portrait with Hasbulla Magomedov after winning the UFC lightweight championship during the UFC 280 event at Etihad Arena
Zuckerberg is a long-time fan and supporter of the UFC and Volkanovski counts him amongst his friends.
'Yeah, he's a mate,' Volkanovski said in October.
'I knew well before
