Power Slap
{{Short description|American slap fighting promotion company}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Power Slap
| logo = Power_Slap_Logo.svg
| type = Private
| genre =
| fate =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| foundation = 2022
| founder = Dana White
| defunct =
| location_city = Las Vegas
| location_country = Nevada, U.S.
| area_served = United States
Worldwide
| key_people =
| industry = Slap fighting promotion
| products =
| services =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| owner = Dana White
| num_employees =
| parent = Schiaffo LLC
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = [https://www.powerslap.com/ powerslap.com]
}}
{{Infobox television
| italic_title = no
| alt_name = Power Slap: Road to the Title
| image =
| genre = Combat sport
Reality
| presenter =
| opentheme =
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 3
| num_episodes = 32
| list_episodes =
| producer =
| executive_producer = Dana White
| runtime =
| company = {{plainlist|
- Pilgrim Media Group
- TBS Productions
- {{nowrap|Warner Bros. Discovery}}
}}
| network = TBS
{{small|(season 1)}}
Rumble
{{small|(season 1 – outside the U.S; season 2 onward – worldwide)}}
| first_aired = {{Start date|2023|1|18}}
| last_aired = present
}}
Power Slap is an American slap fighting promotion company owned by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) chief executive officer Dana White.
Power Slap first gained notoriety by producing a reality television show titled Power Slap: Road to the Title, originally broadcast by the TBS network in the United States and on Rumble internationally.{{cite press release |title=Rumble Announces Partnership With Power Slap |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/12/15/2574594/0/en/Rumble-Announces-Partnership-with-Power-Slap.html |website=Globe Newswire |date=December 15, 2022 |access-date=23 February 2023}} Contestants on the show slapped each other in the face to win the "Power Slap League" tournament. The show's first season consisted of 8 pre-recorded episodes and was followed by the Power Slap 1 live event that aired exclusively on Rumble.
The show was executive produced by Power Slap's owner Dana White.{{citation|url=https://www.mmamania.com/2023/1/17/23559590/dana-white'-laughs-fans-disgusted-over-slap-fight-injuries-watch-the-voice-ufc-video|title=Dana White laughs at fans 'disgusted' over Slap Fight injuries — 'Watch The Voice' |first=Jesse |last=Holland |website=mmamania.com |date=January 17, 2023}} The show was due to premiere on January 11, 2023, but was delayed a week after White was filmed slapping his wife in a Mexican nightclub at a New Year's Eve party.
The show, considered the premier program of the slap fighting combat sport, had significantly lower ratings than its professional wrestling lead-in programming, AEW Dynamite, consistently drawing around 250,000 viewers compared to Dynamite{{'}}s near 800,000 viewers.{{citation|url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2023/2/17/23603371/power-slap-ratings-tie-last-weeks-low-in-week-5-dana-white-mma-news|title=Power Slap retain their record low ratings in Week 5 |first=Trent |last=Reinsmith |website=bloodyelbow.com |date=February 17, 2023}}. On March 13, 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery and TBS representatives confirmed to media sources that the network would no longer air Power Slap: Road to the Title following its first-season finale, which had aired the week prior, partly due to its low ratings.{{Cite web |title=Dana White's Power Slap will not return to TBS for Season 2 |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/3/13/23638485/dana-whites-power-slap-will-not-return-to-tbs-for-season-2 |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=www.mmafighting.com |date=March 13, 2023 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title='Power Slap' series and TBS part ways as program set to move to online platform |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/power-slap-series-tbs-part-230025496.html |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=Yahoo Sports |date=March 13, 2023 |language=en-US}}{{cite web | url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-tbs-confirms-power-slap-league-will-return-season-2-platform | title=TBS confirms Power Slap League will not return for season 2 on the platform | date=March 14, 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2023/3/14/23639982/dana-white-power-slap-canned-by-tbs | title=Report: Dana White's Power Slap canned by TBS | date=March 14, 2023 }} After Road to the Title{{'s}} cancellation by TBS, White confirmed that Power Slap would continue to hold events and produce content for Rumble. During the Power Slap 5 live event, it was announced that the second season of Road to the Title was set to air on Rumble. The second season began airing on November 15, 2023. The third season began airing on July 24, 2024.
Rules
Power Slap, which has been licensed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, uses rules similar to those established by other slap fighting leagues. After a coin toss to decide who goes first, the first striker has a time limit of 60 seconds to deliver an open-handed slap to the opponent. Slaps must be below the eye but above the chin, without leading with the palm such that all hand to face contact takes place at the same time. Those being slapped may not flinch, raise their shoulder or tuck in their chins. After being slapped, the slapped competitor then has 60 seconds to recover before they get back into position prior to their turn to slap. Fights which do not end in a knock out and go three rounds go to the judges' decision, using a 10-point system with judging based on slap strikers' effectiveness as well as the slap receivers' reaction and recovery time. Title bouts are five rounds and in the event of a draw, there will be an extra round to determine the winner of the bout.
Participants are separated by weight and gender.{{Cite web |title=Dana White Explains the Rules of Power Slap |url=https://www.powerslap.com/news/the-rules-of-power-slap/ |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=Power Slap |language=en-US}}
Criticism and health risks
Upon initial airing, Power Slap: Road to the Title created controversy{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/a-recipe-for-disaster-the-power-slap-league-and-why-neurologists-are-so-concerned-12790902|title='A recipe for disaster': The Power Slap League – and why neurologists are so concerned |first=Faiza |last=Saqib |website=sky.com |date=January 21, 2023}} concerning the health of the participants and the inherent danger of the show.{{citation|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/mma/slap-fighter-left-memory-loss-28997975|title=Slap-fighter left with memory loss after brutal KO as Dana White's league launches |first=Ben |last=Davies |website=mirror.co.uk |date=January 19, 2023}} Neuroscientist, chronic traumatic encephalopathy researcher, and former professional wrestler Christopher Nowinski observed one of the show's participants displaying the fencing response after being struck, indicating serious brain injury.{{citation|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/dana-white-tbs-ashamed-power-220059256.html|title=Dana White and TBS should be ashamed' of Power Slap, says neuroscientist Chris Nowinski |first=Simon |last=Samano |website=Yahoo! Sports |date=January 19, 2023}} Greek neurologist Nikolas Evangelou called the show a "recipe for disaster" due to how "impact to the head, from an angle, can cause rotational forces on the brain", leading to "hopefully temporary, but sometimes permanent disruption to brain function" and "even more serious complications". Many combat sports athletes also responded negatively to the show. Boxer and WBC champion Ryan Garcia wrote "Power slap is a horrible idea and it needs to be stopped."{{Cite web |date=2023-02-04 |title=Dana White's Power Slap denounced as dangerous: It's a ticking time bomb for brains |url=https://www.marca.com/en/ufc/2023/02/04/63de70c6e2704ec7a48b45b9.html |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=MARCA |language=en}} UFC fighter Sean O'Malley stated that he refused to watch Power Slap: Road to the Title due to its association with brain injuries.{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Ben |date=2023-02-02 |title=UFC star explains why he refuses to watch Dana White's new slap-fighting league |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/mma/dana-white-power-slap-ufc-29116888 |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=mirror |language=en}}
In response to the criticisms, show producers said, "We spend the money to make sure we have two healthy people in there, proper medical attention during and after the fight. These are the things we need to educate people on, just like we needed to educate people on mixed martial arts." In an interview before the show aired, Dana White said "In Slap, they take three-to-five slaps per event. Fighters in boxing take 300–400 punches per fight. And guess what: you know what my answer to that [criticism of slap fighting] is? If you don't fucking like it, don't watch it! Nobody's asking you to watch this. Oh, you're disgusted by it? Watch The Voice."{{cite tweet |user=jedigoodman |number=1615230328590995458 |title=Jed Goodman on Twitter, tweet with video interview clip}}
On February 16, 2023, Bill Pascrell, a Congressman from New Jersey, and Don Bacon, a Congressman from Nebraska, announced that they were launching a Congressional inquiry into the ethicality of Power Slap.{{Cite web |last=Calhoun |first=Curtis |date=2023-02-17 |title=U.S. Congress Inquires About 'Mindless Violence' In Power Slap League |url=https://www.mmanews.com/2023/02/u-s-congress-inquires-about-mindless-violence-in-power-slap-league/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=MMA News |language=en-US}} That same month, one of the world's leading experts on chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Dr. Bennet Omalu called for slap fighting shows to be removed from television. Omalu stated, in response to White's claims that he was making slap fighting as safe as possible, "It is a very dumb [sport], very stupid and unsafe. It is primitive. To me, such a sport is inconsistent with the intelligence of humans. It is possible that a participant could die from this. Somebody could die or suffer catastrophic brain damage and become a vegetable. How can he [Dana White] make that statement? It is like saying you will make a loaded gun safe [...] Why is TBS showing such a primitive sport? It should not be on TV."{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=John |date=2023-02-10 |title=CTE Expert Speaks Out On Dana White's Power Slap |url=https://www.mmanews.com/2023/02/cte-expert-speaks-out-on-dana-whites-power-slap/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=MMA News |language=en-US}}
List of events
class="sortable wikitable succession-box" style="margin:2.0em auto; font-size:90%;" |
scope="col" | #
! scope="col" | Event ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Venue ! scope="col" | Location |
---|
align="center" |14
|Power Slap 14: The Bell vs. Mena |July 18, 2025 | XULA Convocation Center |{{flagicon|USA}} New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
align="center" | 13
|Power Slap 13: Dumpling vs. Da Hawaiian Hitman |June 27, 2025 |{{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
align="center" | 12
|Power Slap 12: Quinones vs. Bordeaux 2 |March 7, 2025 |{{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
align="center" | 11
|Power Slap 11: Da Crazy Hawaiian vs. Dumpling 2 | {{dts|2025|January|30}} | anb Arena |{{flagicon|SAU}} Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
align=center| 10
|Power Slap 10: The Bell vs. Perez |December 6, 2024 |{{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
align=center| 9
|Power Slap 9: Da Crazy Hawaiian vs. Dumpling | {{dts|2024|October|24}} | Space42 Arena |{{flagicon|UAE}} Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
align=center| 8
|Power Slap 8: Da Crazy Hawaiian vs. Van Heerden | {{dts|2024|June|28}} |{{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
align=center| 7
| Power Slap 7: The Bell vs. Phillips | {{dts|2024|April|12}} | UFC Apex | {{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
align=center| 6
| Power Slap 6: KO Chris vs. Muniz | {{dts|2024|February|9}} | {{flagicon|USA}} Spring Valley, Nevada, United States |
align=center| 5
| Power Slap 5: Da Crazy Hawaiian vs. Vakameilalo | {{dts|2023|October|25}} | UFC Apex | {{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
align=center| 4
| Power Slap 4: Hintz vs. Turpin | {{dts|2023|August|9}} | UFC Apex | {{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
align=center| 3
| Power Slap 3: Hintz vs. Wolverine | {{dts|2023|July|7}} | UFC Apex | {{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
align=center| 2
| Power Slap 2: Wolverine vs. The Bell | {{dts|2023|May|24}} | UFC Apex | {{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
align=center| 1
| Power Slap 1: Darius the Destroyer vs. Wolverine | {{dts|2023|March|11}} | UFC Apex | {{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
==Current champions ==
class="wikitable"
!Division!!Upper weight limit!!Current champion!!Since!!Defenses | ||||
Super heavyweight | 266+ lb (120+ kg) | Vasilii Kamotskii | January 30, 2025 | 0 |
Heavyweight | {{convert|265|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} | Damien Dibbell{{cite web|url=https://www.powerslap.com/rankings/|title=Power Slap Rankings|author=Power Slap|date=May 11, 2023|publisher=powerslap.com}} | May 24, 2023 | 3 |
Light heavyweight | {{convert|205|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} | Ron Bata | July 7, 2023 | 2 |
Middleweight | {{convert|185|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} | Branden Bordeaux | March 8, 2025 | 0 |
Welterweight | {{convert|170|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} | Anthony Blackburn | June 28, 2024 | 1 |
Lightweight | {{convert|155|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} | Robert Trujillo | March 8, 2025 | 0 |
Championship history
=Super Heavyweight Championship=
::Weight limit: 266+lb
class="wikitable" width=100%
!width=1%|No. !width=23%|Name !width=12%|Event !width=15%|Date !width=8%|Reign !width=45%|Defenses |
1
|align=left |{{flagicon|USA}} Koa “Da Crazy Hawaiian” Viernes |align=center |Power Slap 5 |align=center | October 25, 2023 |align=center | {{age in days|2023|10|25|2025|1|30|show unit=full}} |align=center | {{small|1. def. Danie “The Pitbull” Van Heerden at Power Slap 8 on Jun 28, 2024 |
---|
2
|{{flagicon|RUS}} Vasilii “Dumpling” Kamotskii |align=center |Power Slap 11 |align=center |Jan 30, 2025 |align=center |{{Age in days|2025|01|30|show unit=full}} | |
=Heavyweight Championship=
::Weight limit: 265lb
class="wikitable" width=100%
!width=1%|No. !width=23%|Name !width=12%|Event !width=15%|Date !width=8%|Reign !width=45%|Defenses |
1
|align=left |{{flagicon|USA}} Ron “Wolverine" Bata |align=center |Power Slap 1 |align=center | March 11, 2023 |align=center | {{age in days|2023|03|11|2023|5|24|show unit=full}} | |
---|
2
|align=left |{{flagicon|USA}} Damien “The Bell” Dibbell |align=center |Power Slap 2 |align=center | May 24, 2023 |align=center | {{age in days|2023|05|24|show unit=full}} |align=center | {{small|1. def. Nate “The Buffalo Soldier” Burnard at Power Slap 5 on Oct 25, 2023 |
=Light Heavyweight Championship=
::Weight limit: 205lb
class="wikitable" width=100%
!width=1%|No. !width=23%|Name !width=12%|Event !width=15%|Date !width=8%|Reign !width=45%|Defenses |
1
|align=left |{{flagicon|USA}} Ayjay “Static” Hintz |align=center |Power Slap 1 |align=center | March 11, 2023 |align=center | {{age in days|2023|03|11|2023|7|7|show unit=full}} |align=center | {{small|1. def. Russel “Kainoa” Rivero at Power Slap 2 on May 24, 2023}} |
---|
2
|align=left |{{flagicon|USA}} Ron “Wolverine” Bata |align=center |Power Slap 3 |align=center | July 7, 2023 |align=center | {{age in days|2023|07|07|show unit=full}} |align=center | {{small|1. def. Austin “Turp Daddy Slim” Turpin at Power Slap 5 on Oct 25, 2023}} |
=Middleweight Championship=
::Weight limit: 185lb
class="wikitable" width=100%
!width=1%|No. !width=23%|Name !width=12%|Event !width=15%|Date !width=8%|Reign !width=45%|Defenses |
1
|align=left |{{flagicon|USA}} John “The Machine” Davis |align=center |Power Slap 1 |align=center | March 11, 2023 |align=center | {{age in days|2023|03|11|2024|10|24|show unit=full}} |align=center | {{smalldiv|1. def. Wesley “All the Smoke” Drain at Power Slap 2 on May 24, 2023 2. def. Azael "El Perro" Rodriguez at Power Slap 5 on Oct 25, 2023}} |
---|
2
|{{flagicon|USA}} Isaih “Puerto Rican Pretty Boy” Quinones |align=center |Power Slap 9 |align=center |October 24, 2024 |align=center |{{Age in days|2024|10|24|2025|3|7|show unit=full}} |align=center | {{smalldiv|1. def. Branden “The Butcher” Bordeaux at Power Slap 10 on Dec 6, 2024}} |
3
|{{flagicon|USA}} Branden “The Butcher” Bordeaux |align=center |Power Slap 12 |align=center |March 7, 2025 |align=center |{{Age in days|2025|3|7|show unit=full}} |align=center | |
=Welterweight Championship=
::Weight limit: 170lb
class="wikitable" width=100%
!width=1%|No. !width=23%|Name !width=12%|Event !width=15%|Date !width=8%|Reign !width=45%|Defenses |
1
|align=left |{{flagicon|USA}} Christapher “KO Chris” Thomas |align=center |Power Slap 1 |align=center | March 11, 2023 |align=center | {{age in days|2023|03|11|2024|2|9|show unit=full}} | |
---|
2
|{{flagicon|USA}} Emanuel “No Love” Muniz |align=center |Power Slap 6 |align=center |February 9, 2024 |align=center |{{Age in days|2024|02|9|2024|6|28|show unit=full}} | |
3
|{{flagicon|USA}} Anthony “Babyface” Blackburn |align=center |Power Slap 8 |align=center |June 28, 2024 |align=center |{{Age in days|2024|06|28|show unit=full}} |align=center | {{smalldiv|1. def. Emanuel “No Love” Muniz at Power Slap 10 on Dec 6, 2024 |
=Lightweight Championship=
::Weight limit: 155lb
class="wikitable" width=100%
!width=1%|No. !width=23%|Name !width=12%|Event !width=15%|Date !width=8%|Reign !width=45%|Defenses |
1
|align=left |{{flagicon|USA}} Robert “The Real Deal” Trujillo |align=center |Power Slap 12 |align=center | March 7, 2025 |align=center | {{age in days|2025|03|7|show unit=full}} |
---|
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|www.powerslap.com}}
- [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt25697028/ Power Slap] on IMDb
{{TBSNetwork Shows}}
{{Turner Sports}}
Category:Sports organizations of the United States
Category:2020s American reality television series
Category:2020s American sports television series
Category:TBS (American TV channel) original programming