Power Slap Betting: A New Combat Sport Gains Momentum

A new combat sport is gaining some momentum. Naturally, betting on it appears to be expanding. Mixed martial arts rose to popularity in the early 1990s when an upstart promotion titled the Ultimate Fighting Championship sought to find out which fighting style would stand superior when put to the test. Thirty years later, the UFC is the world's premier destination for MMA.

A new combat sport is gaining some momentum, and naturally, betting on it appears to be expanding.

Mixed martial arts rose to popularity in the early 1990s when an upstart promotion titled the Ultimate Fighting Championship sought to find out which fighting style would stand superior when put to the test. Thirty years later, the UFC is the world’s premier destination for MMA.

Now, the UFC looks to expand its territory in combat sports outside of the famous octagon.

UFC President Dana White is attempting to build up the sport of slap fighting (also known as slap boxing) on U.S. soil with a fledgling project called the Power Slap League.

The sport received a major shot in the arm when former UFC fighter Paige VanZant made her slap fighting debut at an event called Power Slap 8 in June 2024. VanZant, who also competed in bare-knuckle boxing, won her debut.

Paige VanZant shook off some slaps and rocked her opponent en route to a unanimous decision victory in her Power Slap debut ? #PowerSlap8 pic.twitter.com/S4igDR3xWR

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 29, 2024

How Power Slap Works

The sport is basically as simple as it sounds.

Two competitors stand across from each other and take turns trying to knock each other out with open-hand strikes. It’s a controversial sport for some observers due to the defenseless head blows, but the concept has gained traction. The sport’s proponents argue that athletes take less head trauma than in traditional boxing with gloves.

The 2023 debut of the PSL featured pre-recorded matches, so no moneyline betting was available for the inaugural season. However, viewers can expect gambling odds and lines in the future.

For now, the best way to wager on Power Slap is through DFS betting on Underdog Fantasy.

Bettors might want to know whether the sport can be equated to flipping coins. Whoever goes first in the blow-for-blow contest has a clear advantage (the first slap can end the fight), but it’s not so simple.

Rules for Power Slap Fighting

Power Slap League matches are played like a typical sport with offensive and defensive positions, depending on the turn. Therefore, a “striker” versus a “defender.” 

Strikers get a 30-second window to tee up a “permitted slap to the permitted target area compliant with the wind-up.” The promoter can also add break time, per the official rules.

A “Power Slap Stick” is held behind the backs of the defenders with both hands and “their arms extended towards the ground.” Flinching, chin tucking, shoulder raising or using “any other method to block the strike” results in a foul.

Warnings can be issued, and strikers are sometimes allowed a second slap. A defender will lose points for subsequent fouls.

Like in traditional boxing, 10-second counts are in play and matches are judged on a 10-point must system. Damage of slaps and defender recoverability are scoring factors.

“I’m really into this; I like it,” White said during a November 2022 Power Slap League press conference. “When we announced this, there was a lot of concern about the health and safety of some guys. Us [the UFC] getting involved guarantees it will be much safer.”

Where to Watch Power Slap

Currently, Power Slap events stream live and free across the globe on Rumble. Rumble is available for free on desktop, mobile and web at Rumble.com, iOS (iPhone & iPad), Apple TV, Samsung TV’s, Android & Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku Streaming Players and Roku TVs and LG TV.

Power Slap is also available for commercial venue subscribers of DirecTV (channel 9537 in the United States).

The league’s inaugural season featured eight one-hour episodes akin to the reality-style format of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), a show which helped grow the UFC in the mid-2000s. The series debuted on the TBS network on Jan. 18, 2023. Subsequent episodes aired on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET.

Clips of the sport often go viral on social media, helping make it attractive for White.

Time will tell whether White can leverage the exposure to elevate slap fighting to similar heights as TUF or MMA, accompanied by widespread betting interest.

Not a New Concept

The Power Slap League is a new project in the United States. In Europe, however, a separate promotion called the SlapFIGHT Championship has been around for longer. The league attracted YouTuber Logan Paul and film icon Arnold Schwarzenegger as celebrity commentators, and DraftKings Sportsbook has offered odds on matches.