Cornhole topping and pickleball have both evolved into organized professional sports in recent years.
But another emerging competition trying to draw attention to the act requires participants to demonstrate a completely different kind of skill: the ability to slap someone silly.
Slap fighting is a one-on-one competition in which competitors hit each other in the face until one person submits or is knocked out. Although competitors have been holding unsanctioned matches in small venues for years, the competitions received a major boost in October when the Nevada Athletic Commission recognized the sport.
Slap fighting became even more well-known earlier this year when Warner Bros. Discovery’s TBS cable channel began airing the matches on a show called “Power Slap.” Nevada sports officials have also approved UFC President Dana White as the lead promoter for the Power Slap League, which launches in January.
“There’s just something about it that I like, and I like the challenge of it,” White told the Associated Press this week. “I like taking something and turning it into a big brand.”
Growing fan base
Slap matches last three to five rounds. A strike has 60 seconds to recover from the hit, and they earn points based on the strength of the slap. The Power Slap League features more than 30 competitors, known as “strikers,” with winners receiving between $2,000 and $10,000 per match.
Some of the league’s biggest stars include Missouri’s Darius “The Destroyer” Mata-Varona; North Dakota’s Christapher “Ko Chris” Thomas; Kansas’ Vernon “The Mechanic” Cathey; and California’s Mike “Slap Jesus” Smith. White describes these offensive players as regular guys and family men who just love to compete.
Slap fighting has a growing following on social media, particularly in Europe, where videos of the fights have racked up millions of views on YouTube and Instagram. On TV, TBS averaged about 275,000 views for the first four episodes of Power Slap, which featured several competitors showing signs of concussions.
Indeed, the brutal nature of the sport prompted the Nevada Athletic Commission to enact stricter rules for slap fighting last month. Competitors must use bare-handed strikes and cannot hit opponents below the chin, commissioners ruled. A competitor will be disqualified if any slap violates the rules, while slaps must also be reviewed by a referee on video.
Power Slap president Frank Lamicella told commissioners last month that there had been “no major injuries” in the 25 matches sanctioned so far. White said that tournament officials always think about safety when preparing for a game.
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