MMA community voices out against Power Slap as athletes endure brain trauma

UFC president Dana White's slap-fighting promotion Power Slap premiered on TBS on January 18. The show, titled 'Power Slap: Road to the Title', has however not been received wholeheartedly by the combat sports community.Slap fighting involves two contestants standing on either side of a podium, taking turns to slap each other in the face until one of them is unable to continue. Many feel that the no-defense, all-offense nature of the sport is bound to cause serious brain injuries for the contestants.The concerns were proven to be valid when contestant Chris Kennedy showed immediate signs of brain injury after being knocked out by a slap during the opening episode of the show.Chris Nowinski, Ph.D.@ChrisNowinski1This is so sad. Note the fencing posture with the first brain injury. He may never be the same. @danawhite &amp; @TBSNetwork should be ashamed. Pure exploitation. What's next, &quot;Who can survive a stabbing&quot;?722768929This is so sad. Note the fencing posture with the first brain injury. He may never be the same. @danawhite &amp; @TBSNetwork should be ashamed. Pure exploitation. What's next, &quot;Who can survive a stabbing&quot;? https://t.co/jTENpUmJDdReacting to the brutal nature of the sport, many fans and fighters took to Twitter to pen their thoughts about the UFC president's latest venture.Place your bets for the upcoming UFC fight night main card and earn $$$.Twitter user @mmaTRiLL claimed it was impossible not to notice that only the people under Dana White's payroll were supporting the new slap-fighting venture:&quot;Don't think I didn't notice the ONLY people supporting the Power Slap League are people under Dana's payroll&quot;TRiLL🇨🇦@mmaTRiLLDon't think I didn't notice the ONLY people supporting the Power Slap League are people under Dana's payroll121Don't think I didn't notice the ONLY people supporting the Power Slap League are people under Dana's payroll https://t.co/Z2ROhZuolzFormer WBC interim lightweight champion Ryan Garcia stated:&quot;Power slap is a horrible idea and needs to be stopped&quot;RYAN GARCIA@RyanGarciaPower slap is a horrible idea and needs to be stopped14750881Power slap is a horrible idea and needs to be stopped@LewisOldham99 stated that slap fighting is wrong as athletes are at great risk of suffering long-term brain trauma:&quot;Just here to say that #PowerSlap is dangerous and fundamentally wrong. Dana White should hang his head in shame with this. The fighters are at risk of serious long-term brain trauma.&quot;Lewis Oldham@LewisOldham99Just here to say that #PowerSlap is dangerous and fundamentally wrong. Dana White should hang his head in shame with this. The fighters are at risk of serious long-term brain trauma. 904Just here to say that #PowerSlap is dangerous and fundamentally wrong. Dana White should hang his head in shame with this. The fighters are at risk of serious long-term brain trauma. https://t.co/6QZqHXbto3UFC lightweight Matt Frevola stated his disappointment in the UFC for not having utilized the money that went into creating the new slap-fighting show to make the MMA promotion better.Matt “The Steamrolla”Frevola@SteamRollaaI don’t want to know how much money went into this Power Slap shit. Why not put that money towards making the UFC a better overall product and legitimizing the sport? It’s also dumb af lol. 🗑️ 🤦🏻&zwj;♂️ 3570312I don’t want to know how much money went into this Power Slap shit. Why not put that money towards making the UFC a better overall product and legitimizing the sport? It’s also dumb af lol. 🗑️ 🤦🏻&zwj;♂️ 😩Check out a few other responses below:Funky@BenaskrenI just don’t see the attraction to Power Slap. Feels like you have to be sadistic to like it.7568225I just don’t see the attraction to Power Slap. Feels like you have to be sadistic to like it.Nathan Diaz JR@AbsolutlyNobodePower slap is a fucking embarrassing idea. Bring Muay Thai to the mainstream instead of that garbage.868113Power slap is a fucking embarrassing idea. Bring Muay Thai to the mainstream instead of that garbage.Adam Lash@newfoundmassWhen you really boil it down, Power Slap is just two obscenely wealthy dudes in Dana and Lorenzo deciding they want to watch a bunch of middle and lower class folk knock each other out for their enjoyment. It's super villain shit.13912When you really boil it down, Power Slap is just two obscenely wealthy dudes in Dana and Lorenzo deciding they want to watch a bunch of middle and lower class folk knock each other out for their enjoyment. It's super villain shit.Adam of the B.A.N.@AdamOfTheBANI’ve watched pro wrestling since 1984. I started watching MMA in 1993. I’ve watched Power Slap for four minutes and it’s the dumbest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.25019I’ve watched pro wrestling since 1984. I started watching MMA in 1993. I’ve watched Power Slap for four minutes and it’s the dumbest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.Paddy Power@paddypowerDana White: “Can’t stand soccer. It’s the least-talented sport on Earth. You know how untalented you have to be to score three times when the net is that big?”Also Dana White:“Introducing my new promotion: slap fighting!”137371Dana White: “Can’t stand soccer. It’s the least-talented sport on Earth. You know how untalented you have to be to score three times when the net is that big?”Also Dana White:“Introducing my new promotion: slap fighting!” https://t.co/cRiWGIHfoOJeremy Botter@jeremybotterPower Slap is even more stupid than I thought it would be which is saying something because I already thought it was profoundly fucking stupid15310Power Slap is even more stupid than I thought it would be which is saying something because I already thought it was profoundly fucking stupidStephen Jensen@FightTalk_Power Slap is stupid as fuck11714Power Slap is stupid as fuckWhen Conor McGregor used Power Slap as an example to explain how to throw a perfect punchIt looks like Power Slap has a fan in Conor McGregor. Since the show premiered on TBS this Wednesday, 'Notorious' has tweeted quite a bit about it.In one of his posts, the Irishman stated that the slapping technique used by the contestants on the show was akin to the technique required for a knockout-worthy punch:&quot;If anything, power slap is showing the importance of turning back your shoulder and torquing your torso into the shot. “Turning of the hip” potentially the wrong terminology being used. Hips less important? Possible also. Turn your shoulder back and torque fully into strike! K.O.&quot;Conor McGregor@TheNotoriousMMAIf anything, power slap is showing the importance of turning back your shoulder and torquing your torso into the shot. “Turning of the hip” potentially the wrong terminology being used. Hips less important? Possible also. Turn your shoulder back and torque fully into strike! K.O.5590135If anything, power slap is showing the importance of turning back your shoulder and torquing your torso into the shot. “Turning of the hip” potentially the wrong terminology being used. Hips less important? Possible also. Turn your shoulder back and torque fully into strike! K.O.Conor McGregor has been out of active competition since breaking his leg at UFC 264 in 2021. With his injuries healing, the 34-year-old is expected to make his UFC return in the first half of 2023.

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