Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), had a vision. He saw underground, unregulated slap-fighting leagues around the globe. These competitions, in which two competitors would stand opposite of each other and take turns delivering powerful slaps to each other’s faces in an effort to knock them out, were growing in popularity. Devastating KOs were going viral on multiple platforms. Dana White had to get in on it.
He jumped aboard the train and founded Power Slap, the world’s first regulated professional slap-fighting league. His vision is to do with slap-fighting what he did with MMA– turn it into a multi-billion dollar promotion with big spectacle and roaring crowds.
Road to the Title
The first step in garnering attention for Power Slap was the production of a reality show similar to the UFC’s Ultimate Fighter in which contenders would live together in a house and compete to earn a spot on Power Slap’s first official card. The show, “Power Slap: Road to the Title,” aired on TBS for eight weeks leading up to the card and featured emotional backstories, drunken tirades and, of course, destructive slaps.
Many are buying into Power Slap, seeing it as a fun, awe-inducing spectacle. But there are those who oppose it. In addition to the violent slapping, the sport has also drawn negative attention due to the obvious amounts of brain damage the fighters sustain.
Stephen Cloobeck, ex-chairman of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, says he regrets having sanctioned Power Slap:
“I made a mistake. I’m not happy about it.”
Critics of Power Slap claim its product is childish and barbaric– but that’s exactly what’s making the sport so entertaining. Dana White is perfectly aware of the insane, nonsensical nature competition he’s put together. Power Slap embraces that identity and is not ashamed of it.
Slap-Happy
Supporting the promotion further was the success of Power Slap 1, the promotion’s first official fight card. The event was live-streamed on Rumble and saw several devastating knockouts.
There were 4 fights on the main card, beginning with Christapher “KO Chris” Thomas delivering a brutal knockout of Jesus Gaspar-Diaz to earn the Power Slap Welterweight Championship. Thomas’ performance solidifies him as a rising superstar in the promotion.
Next on the card was John Davis vs. Azael Rodriguez for the middleweight title. That fight saw Davis winning by KO in the first round, a slap that resulted in Rodriguez’s face colliding with the podium.
The co-main event featured AyJay Hintz vs. Vernon “The Mechanic” Cathey, in which Hintz was able to regain composure after a devastating blow from Cathey and followed by knocking him out. The victory earned Hintz the light heavyweight title.
The main event featured Darius the Destroyer against Ron “The Wolverine” Bata for the Power Slap Heavyweight Championship. Darius went first, but Bata brushed his slap off with ease. Bata answered by knocking Darius out, who was previously 3-0 against him.
People can criticize all they want, but when Dana White has a vision, he’s going to do everything he can to bring it to fruition. The promotion’s first official card proves it. Power Slap taking the nation by storm and earning headlines all over the media. There’s no stopping it now.
