Dana White’s latest venture – Power Slap League – has been met with plenty of negative press.
The show, which sees two people stand face-to-face and deliver full open palmed slaps to one another, often until somebody is knocked unconscious, has been branded as dangerous, foolish and exploitative.
According to the promotion, competitors battle ‘on the ultimate stage to showcase their power, technique and resolve.’ It’s licensed by the Nevada State Athletic commission and has been widely condemned by fans and combat sports stars since it’s inception.
Two people who aren’t here for it are promoter and fighter duo, Oscar De La Hoya and Ryan Garcia. De La Hoya, who was a multiple weight world champion in his day, told the MMA Hour that someone was going to be seriously hurt if it continued.
“I’ve seen one promotion on Instagram, and I think it’s terrible. I really do think it’s terrible. You have two guys that are just slapping each other, there’s no way of pulling the punch, there’s no way of dodging it, there’s no way of defending yourself.
It’s not a sport, first of all, and secondly, until one person becomes brain dead is when people are gonna speak out. It’s nonsense. It’s bulls**t.”
His star fighter, Garcia, agrees. The undefeated lightweight gave his opinion on Twitter, and refused any comparison to boxing because of the crucial aspect of defence.
“Power slap is a horrible idea and needs to be stopped.”
“Bro don’t miss the obvious, we have a chance to defend they don’t it’s just stupid no need to debate.”
Bro don’t miss the obvious, we have a chance to defend they don’t it’s just stupid no need to debate
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) January 21, 2023
The show, which airs on American TV network TBS, was due to debut earlier in the year but coincided with the leak of a video that showed White in an altercation with his wife in which they hit each other.