Slap fighting: The next big thing in combat sports or a dangerous trend?

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Here’s the scoop!

• UFC President Dana White is promoting the Power Slap League as the next big thing in combat sports, despite concerns about the safety of the sport.
• Slap fighting involves fighters taking turns slapping each other in the face with an open hand, and can result in knockouts or injuries.
• The Nevada Athletic Commission has sanctioned the league for competitions in Las Vegas, and White believes it will follow a similar trajectory to mixed martial arts.

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Slap fighting, the sport of taking turns slapping each other in the face, is being promoted as the next big thing in combat sports by UFC President Dana White. The Power Slap League has been sanctioned by the Nevada Athletic Commission for competitions in Las Vegas, but concerns remain about the safety of the sport, particularly regarding the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head.

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White and some fighters remain unfazed by the criticism, comparing commentary on slapping to the negative reaction the UFC faced in its infancy over 20 years ago. Despite concerns about concussions leading to CTE, White believes slap fighting is safer than boxing or mixed martial arts because each contestant usually takes only three blows per bout, while in boxing, that number could be 400 or more.

However, some experts argue that comparing boxing to power slapping is misleading because slap fighters take a full blow each time.

The Power Slap League has already held three qualifying events at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, with the champions set to be crowned in four weight classes in a telecast on the streaming platform Rumble on March 11th.

While the Nevada commission has approved amended rules to better define what constitutes a legal slap in an effort to minimize serious injuries, some still question the safety and legitimacy of the sport.

Source: apnews.com