Dana White's Power Slap is Regressive for the UFC & MMA

Dana White's Power Slap is everything the UFC tried to distance itself from.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) and the UFC have come a long way since its early days when it was often dubbed as “human cockfighting” by critics, including the late Senator John McCain. The UFC, under the leadership of Dana White, has been instrumental in transforming the sport into a legitimate and widely respected athletic competition.

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Over the years, the UFC has worked hard to distance itself from the negative perception created by critics like McCain. However, White’s ‘Power Slap League’ shows a concerning disregard for the evolution of the sport, and takes a deep plunge into the “human cockfighting” narrative that the UFC tried so hard to avoid.

Ex-UFC commentator Dan Hardy hit the nail on the head when he explained his contempt for Power Slap during an appearance on "Triggernometry" in March:

Hardy explained how the idea of Power Slap would have sunk the UFC as a brand if it were considered even just ten years ago:

“I guess in a way it reflects how strong the UFC brand is that now they can stick Power Slap on the side of it and don’t feel like they’re doing damage to the sport.

"If you’d have done that in 2010, it would have completely invalidated the UFC as a brand, because people were still on the fence about it. "

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, otherwise known as CTE, is a brain condition brought on by repeated blows to the head that leads to dementia. Hardy remarked how Power Slap is practically "CTE for money" and that "they're trading brain cells for cash":

"[It’s basically] two guys taking free swings at one another --- It’s CTE [brain damage] for money --- they’re trading brain cells for cash. And they’re only paying you a couple thousand dollars to do it anyway.

“It misses the point of combat sports. It’s not a sport because there’s not a competitiveness to it, it’s the person who can get up after taking full power slaps …. Because it’s bolted onto the UFC now, so tightly all the way through their social media and their online presence, if something happens to one of those people, of course it gets reflected badly on the UFC. But I just don’t feel like they care anymore.”

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How Much Does Power Slap Pay Its 'Fighters'?

Hardy explained how Power Slap only pays "a couple thousand dollars," and it's true.

In exchange for unavoidable brain trauma, Power Slap participants are being paid as low as $2,000/$2,000 show and win, despite being on the world stage for martial arts under the UFC banner. 

Via @ericspicely on Twitter

"I was contacted to do slap league, you guys would be shocked at how much it pays," ex-UFC fighter Eric Spicely Tweeted.

"How much?" One fan replied.

"First fight was 2k and 2k." Spicely clarified.

White all but confirmed the pay-scale when he defended Power Slap in the comments of an Instagram post:

""Road to the title" where you get 2k/2k and maybe 10k/10k if you win it all," one commenter remarked.

White replied, "[That's] how MMA started too. Boxing undercards make this kind of money still. Educate yourself before you open the YAP."

Medical Experts Condemn Dana White's Power Slap League

"The face and head are particularly sensitive areas," Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD told The Manual. "Slapping it can result in injuries like cuts, bruises, broken bones and even traumatic brain injury."

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Neuroscientist Chris Nowinski Ph.D called Power Slap "pure exploitation" in his response to a compilation of Power Slap knockouts:

This is so sad. Note the fencing posture with the first brain injury. He may never be the same. @danawhite & @TBSNetwork should be ashamed. Pure exploitation. What's next, "Who can survive a stabbing"? pic.twitter.com/jTENpUmJDd

— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) January 19, 2023

"This is so sad. Note the fencing posture with the first brain injury. He may never be the same. [Dana White] & TBS Network should be ashamed. Pure exploitation. What's next, "Who can survive a stabbing"?"

Nowinski continued when TBS Network dropped Power Slap from their scheduling:

"I'm proud of you [TBS Network] for dumping Power Slap League. It's OK to admit a mistake, just as the Nevada Commissioner who sanctioned it has too. [Dana White], will you admit you jumped the shark here & walk away? You are destroying people & your reputation."

As Power Slap gears up for its second season, controversy continues to swirl. The future of Power Slap alongside the UFC remains uncertain. One thing is certain, however: it represents a misguided step that hinders the public acceptance of mixed martial arts.