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Summary
- Slap fighting is now a licensed sport in Nevada
- Dana White’s Power Slap League will soon debut in Las Vegas
- The League will establish rules based on MMA to ensure the health and safety of players
Slap fighting has been around for several years, mainly viewed as one of those peculiar sports that many people enjoy. Now, it has officially become a regulated sport in Nevada after being approved by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on October 18, 2022.
UFC President Dana White played a key role in getting it licensed, as his new venture, “Power Slap League” debuts in Las Vegas by the end of 2022.
White’s Power Slap League Will be Modelled after MMA
UFC’s chief business officer Hunter Campbell revealed they have been in talks with the commission on the potential regulation of slap fighting since last year. Among those involved in the discussions were some of the commission’s top officials, such as Chairman Stephen Cloobeck and executive director Jeff Mullen, as well as Joel Becker from the Nevada attorney general’s office.
Campbell also said that Power Slap League will adopt pretty much the same structure and rules as mixed martial arts (MMA). The weight classes, matchmaking, and medical requirements will also be similar to MMA. Campbell said regulating the sport would ensure that the health and safety of the competitors won’t be compromised.
Power Slap League will implement rules and policies that will remove some of the traditional aspects of the competition, including huge weight differences between players. The rules are also expected to set a limit on the length of each bout and specify the areas that can be slapped. The participants will be required to wear safety devices like earplugs and mouthguards.
First Event to Take Place in Late 2022
Apart from White, also part of Power Slap League’s ownership group are private investment firm Fertitta Capital which is owned by former UFC owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, Endeavor, Zeke Capital, TV producer Craig Piligan (co-creator of the reality show “The Ultimate Fighter”), and Campbell himself.
There is no specific date yet for an inaugural event, but Power Slap League will debut in late 2022 and will be distributed by a “major broadcast partner“, according to Campbell.
Slap fighting involves two competitors taking turns slapping each other in the face until one person gives in. It has become some sort of a global craze over the past couple of years due to viral videos posted online. Multiple slap fighting competitions have since been organized around the world, with famous celebrities also joining the trend, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Logan Paul who teamed up to launch the Slap Fighting Championship earlier this year.
