MMA journalist reveals UFC fighters’ true thoughts on Power Slap League competitors - 'They don't fight for that reason'

MMA media member Amy Kaplan revealed that there are UFC fighters who enjoy watching Power Slap and their alleged thoughts on the sport.

Since UFC president Dana White launched his slap-fighting league, there has been plenty of backlash around the legitimacy and safety of the sport. It turns out that some UFC fighters are fans of the White’s new business venture. During the Power Slap 1 Finale, Kaplan was in attendance and tweeted this:

“Lots of UFC fighters in the crowd and they appear to be LOVING this #PowerSlap1”

Kaplan followed up by revealing that she questioned several fighters about their interest in slap-fighting:

“Just spoke with a few of them and they all say they love watching, and respect the guys (don't refer to them as athletes) they all say they don't want to do it though. They said no skill, it's just men trying to prove how tough they are and they don't fight for that reason.”

On March 11th, the first season of slap-fighting concluded with a live event featuring the championship matches inside the UFC APEX. After averaging 293,500 viewers for season one, White is satisfied with the results, citing incredibly high social media statistics.

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Where is the Power Slap backlash coming from?

Power Slap has received backlash for several reasons. The primary argument revolves around competitors not having the ability to defend themselves, allegedly leading to more concussions. Another concern from fans is that Power Slap participants aren’t paid well compared to other combat sports athletes.

Dana White is tired of hearing about the slap-fighting backlash. The UFC president has provided several counter-arguments. He believes the slap-fighting league is facing similar hurdles as the early stages of MMA. The 53-year-old claimed he’s been a victim of biased media, which he plans to address in an upcoming documentary.

Along with a documentary going after the media, White recently announced they are working out the details for seasons two and three. The UFC president believes an increased number of live events will contribute to the slap-fighting league’s success. It’ll be intriguing to see if his new business venture becomes mainstream like MMA or fails like several other reality shows he’s created.