Dana White announces launch of Power Slap league, 8-episode series set for early 2023 on TBS
UFC President Dana White has officially announced the launch to Power Slap, a new competitive combat sport focused on open-handed striking.
Formed by White, Lorenzo Fertitta and Craig Piligian, in partnership with Ultimate Fighting Championship and Endeavor, and produced by Pilgrim Media Group, Power Slap will feature competitors from across the globe competing on the ultimate stage to showcase their power, technique and resolve.
The sport Power Slap will launch with an eight episode series that will air on TBS in early 2023 where athletes will compete to earn a spot in the cast house, the first Power Slap rankings, in future Power Slap matches and world recognition.
“I’m very excited for the launch of Power Slap,” said Dana White. “I’ve been working on this since 2017. I saw some footage of slap fighting on social media and I was instantly hooked. From the first day I saw it, I felt like this could be big. I knew what needed to be done to make it a real sport just like we did with MMA. We got it sactioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) with defined rules, rankings and weight classes. Power Slap is built for the modern sports fan.”
According to the Power Slap website, a coin toss will determine the option of whether or not the winner would like to throw or receive the first slap. There will be a 30 second clock to deliver the slap, and another 30 seconds for recovery. The minimum number of rounds for each competition will be three.
Victory will be determined via knockout, TKO, or by points — which, like MMA and boxing, will be based on a 10-point must system. Judges will determine scoring based on striker’s effectiveness, along with the defender’s reaction and recovery time. Matches can also be ruled a no contest, disqualification, or go to the judges for a technical decision if deemed necessary.
Fouls for striking include clubbing, stepping, illegal wind-up, and delay of game. It was also revealed that fighters will have to announce which hand they will be using, and how long it will take for the slap to be delivered. If a striker veers from the announcement, it will result in a penalty. Fouls for defenders will be given for flinching, blocking, or delay of game.
The penalties for fouls include warnings, point deductions, re-strikes, losses of strikes, or disqualification.
There will be weight classes for men and women who are selected to compete.
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