Controversial face-slapping contest
February 23, 2025 13:38 (GMT+7)Slap fighting, which recently debuted in Scotland, has caused mixed opinions regarding the risk of brain injury.
Unlike boxing, MMA or Muay Thai – sports that require both offense and defense, slapping has no defensive element.
In the match, two athletes will slap their opponents straight in the face without being allowed to dodge or block. The winner is determined by knockout, winning on points or when the referee or doctor calls for a stop to the match, BBC reported.
Slap fighting started as an online phenomenon among strong athletes in Russia, then spread to Eastern Europe and the US. In 2023, Dana White – president of UFC, founded the Power Slap tournament.
Now, an independent tournament in the UK has emerged and is preparing to hold its first match night in Glasgow, Scotland.
Josh Skeete, the man behind BritSlap/SlapFight UK, said: “I became interested in 2021 when I saw the fights online. After doing some research, I realised there wasn’t a tournament in the UK and I wanted to do it.”
Last year, doctors at the University of Pittsburgh published the first study into the link between brain injuries and the sport of slap fighting.
The study analysed 78 fights and found that more than half of the fighters had signs of concussion after being hit. This can lead to a range of health problems including post-traumatic headaches, visual disturbances, mood swings and cognitive impairment.
“There’s no defensive element to this sport, so every hit is more powerful, which is a concern,” said lead author Dr Raj Swaroop Lavadi.
He also advised fighters to do their research before taking part and wanted organisers to be more transparent about the risks of the sport.
“I think there are safer, more regulated forms of martial arts that people who enjoy combat sports can participate in,” Mr Raj stressed.
Robyn “The Belter” Wereshcuk, a fighter from Livingston, Scotland, said the sport has helped her gain confidence, improve her self-esteem and benefit her life with her children.
She initially loved Muay Thai at the gym. Then an Instagram message to PowerSlap (a slap fighting tournament in the US) changed her life.
Not only did she compete in PowerSlap’s first international event in Abu Dhabi, she also won.
“This is the best thing I’ve ever done, I love it. You can see I’m emotional when I win. I was homeless after leaving my husband and I didn’t have a job because I was a stay-at-home mom for years. This sport really helped me get back on my feet,” Robyn shared.
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