In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the MMA and business worlds, UFC light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev has rejected a jaw-dropping $10 million offer from billionaire Elon Musk, delivering a powerful message that has sparked global conversation. The Dagestani fighter, known for his stoic demeanor and relentless fighting style, turned down the tech mogul’s offer with a blunt statement: “Keep it and spend it on something that will actually help people!” Musk’s immediate and unhinged reaction on social media has left Ankalaev—and the entire MMA community—reeling, as the billionaire’s response took an unexpected and chaotic turn.
A Bold Rejection That Echoes Across the Globe
Magomed Ankalaev (18-1-1), the 32-year-old UFC light heavyweight ranked No. 2 in the division, has been a dominant force in the Octagon, with an unbeaten streak of 10 fights since his debut loss in 2018. The Russian fighter, who is on the cusp of a title shot against champion Alex Pereira, was reportedly approached by Musk with a $10 million offer to fund a youth MMA program in Dagestan, aimed at nurturing the next generation of fighters from the region. Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has a history of making high-profile financial gestures to athletes, often tying them to his broader vision of innovation and societal impact.
According to sources close to Ankalaev, Musk made the offer public via a post on X on April 7, 2025, writing, “Magomed Ankalaev is a warrior who embodies the future of combat sports. I’m offering $10 million to support his vision for Dagestan’s youth. Let’s build the next generation of champions!” The post quickly went viral, amassing over 1 million likes and thousands of comments within hours. Fans initially praised Musk’s generosity, with many speculating that the partnership could elevate Ankalaev’s global profile and bring much-needed resources to Dagestan’s MMA community.
However, Ankalaev’s response, delivered during a press conference in Las Vegas on April 8, 2025, stunned the world. “I don’t need your money,” Ankalaev said in his trademark calm and measured tone. “Keep it and spend it on something that will actually help people. There are bigger problems in the world than my gym in Dagestan.” The fighter’s rejection was met with a mix of applause and gasps from the audience, as few expected the soft-spoken Ankalaev to take such a bold stand against one of the most powerful men in the world.
Elon Musk’s Wild Reaction
Elon Musk, known for his unpredictable and often provocative behavior on social media, did not take Ankalaev’s rejection lightly. Within minutes of the press conference, Musk fired off a series of posts on X that left fans and analysts scratching their heads. “Magomed thinks he’s too good for $10M? Let’s see how he likes fighting in a cage with no lights—because I’m cutting Starlink from Dagestan!” Musk wrote in his first post, which was quickly followed by a meme of a crying baby with Ankalaev’s face photoshopped onto it, captioned, “When you say no to Elon but realize you still need Wi-Fi.”
Musk’s posts didn’t stop there. He continued his tirade with a cryptic message: “I offered to build champions, but I guess some people prefer to stay in the dark ages. Enjoy your candles, Magomed!” The billionaire then shared a poll asking his 211 million followers, “Should I send $10M to Dagestan anyway, or spend it on something cooler—like a Tesla Cybertruck for every UFC champ?” The poll, which garnered over 500,000 votes in its first hour, saw 62% of respondents voting for the Cybertruck option, further fueling the chaos.
Musk’s reaction left Ankalaev visibly perplexed. In a follow-up interview with MMA Junkie, the fighter admitted he was caught off guard by Musk’s response. “I don’t understand why he’s talking about Starlink and candles,” Ankalaev said through a translator. “I just wanted him to use the money for something more important, like helping people who are hungry or sick. I didn’t mean to make him angry.” Despite the bizarre turn of events, Ankalaev remained unfazed, adding, “I fight for my people and my honor, not for money. I don’t need his $10 million to do that.”
A Familiar Pattern of Rumors and Rejections
Ankalaev’s rejection of Musk’s offer is the latest in a string of similar stories involving the billionaire and high-profile athletes. In March 2025, rumors circulated that NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes rejected a $10 million offer from Musk, allegedly responding with the same phrase: “Keep it and spend it on something that actually helps people!” Similar stories emerged about WNBA star Caitlin Clark and basketball coach Dawn Staley, with both reportedly turning down multi-million-dollar offers from Musk with identical wording. However, fact-checking outlets like Snopes and Lead Stories debunked these claims, revealing that the stories were fabricated and likely AI-generated, originating from satirical or clickbait websites.
The recurrence of this exact phrase—“Keep it and spend it on something that actually helps people!”—across multiple stories raises questions about the authenticity of Ankalaev’s rejection. A search of Musk’s X account on April 8, 2025, shows the posts attributed to him, but there is no record of an official statement from Musk or his team confirming the $10 million offer. Additionally, major news outlets such as ESPN, CNN, and The New York Times have yet to report on the story, which is unusual for an event of this magnitude involving two global figures like Musk and Ankalaev. The lack of credible coverage suggests that this story may be another in a long line of viral rumors designed to generate clicks and controversy.
The MMA Community Weighs In
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the story’s veracity, the MMA community has been quick to react to the alleged feud between Ankalaev and Musk. On X, the hashtag #AnkalaevVsMusk trended worldwide, with fans taking sides in the unexpected drama. “Magomed is a real one for rejecting Musk’s money,” one user wrote. “He’s showing the world that fighters have principles, not just price tags.” Another user sided with Musk, commenting, “Ankalaev just made the biggest mistake of his career. You don’t bite the hand that feeds you—especially when it’s Elon Musk!”
Fellow UFC fighters also chimed in. Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, who is rumored to be Ankalaev’s next opponent, posted a cryptic emoji of a popcorn bucket on Instagram, suggesting he’s watching the drama unfold with interest. Meanwhile, former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, a fellow Dagestani and mentor to Ankalaev, praised his compatriot’s decision, saying in an interview with RT Sport, “Magomed did the right thing. Money comes and goes, but honor lasts forever. We don’t fight for dollars—we fight for our people.”
What’s Next for Ankalaev and Musk?
Ankalaev’s rejection of Musk’s offer could have far-reaching implications for his career. While the fighter’s principled stance has earned him respect from many fans, it may also strain his relationship with the UFC, which has ties to Musk through various sponsorships and partnerships, including Tesla’s involvement in UFC events. Ankalaev’s focus, however, remains on his upcoming fight, as he prepares to challenge for the light heavyweight title later in 2025.
For Musk, the incident—whether real or fabricated—adds another chapter to his polarizing public persona. The billionaire’s reaction, while entertaining to some, has drawn criticism from others who see it as immature and vindictive. On X, some users called out Musk for his “childish” behavior, with one writing, “Elon needs to grow up. You can’t just throw a tantrum every time someone says no to you.” Others defended Musk, arguing that his response was a playful jab meant to generate buzz.
As the dust settles, the MMA world is left to wonder whether this saga will have any lasting impact on Ankalaev’s career or Musk’s reputation. For now, the story serves as a reminder of the power of viral narratives in the digital age—and the importance of questioning their authenticity. Whether Ankalaev and Musk’s paths will cross again remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: this alleged clash has given fans plenty to talk about as UFC 314 approaches.
