Power Slap: Dana White's Slap Fighting League
Power Slap is a professional slap fighting league created by UFC CEO Dana White, operating under the broader UFC and TKO Group umbrella. The league brought slap fighting from viral internet clips and Russian competitions into the American mainstream with professional production, regulated rules, and major broadcast distribution.
Origins and Usage
Dana White first encountered slap fighting through viral videos of Russian and Eastern European competitions, where massive men took turns delivering open-hand strikes to each other's faces. Recognizing the format's viral potential, White launched Power Slap in 2023 with the full weight of the UFC's production and marketing infrastructure behind it. The league secured a broadcast deal and was sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, giving it regulatory legitimacy that previous slap fighting competitions lacked.
Power Slap's rules formalize the turn-based striking format: competitors alternate delivering single open-hand strikes to each other's face, with the striker's feet planted and the defender unable to dodge or block. Matches are won by knockout, referee stoppage, or judges' decision. The league features weight classes and medical protocols modeled on those used in UFC events.
In Underground Fighting
Power Slap is polarizing within the combat sports community. Supporters argue it is simply another competitive format that athletes choose freely, backed by better safety protocols than its underground predecessors. Critics, including many fighters and medical professionals, contend that a format requiring competitors to absorb undefended head strikes is inherently dangerous regardless of regulation. The league has faced significant opposition from state legislators and medical associations seeking to ban the sport. Despite the controversy, Power Slap has built a dedicated fanbase and continues to produce viral moments that drive massive social media engagement.
Related Terms
- Slap Fighting -- The broader combat sport format
- Death Slap -- A devastating single-strike knockout
- Promotion -- The organizing company behind fighting events
See Also
- Unified Rules -- Standardized rules approved by athletic commissions
- KO / Knockout -- Fight-ending loss of consciousness