Dana White, President of the UFC, recently created a new sport called Power Slap League, where competitors slap each other in the face. Participants from all over the world compete on a grand platform to demonstrate their strength, skill, and determination.
Experts have called into question the safety of Power Slap, as the tournament continues to gain momentum globally. A recent video showed a competitor’s face ballooning significantly after a strike from an opponent, raising strong medical concerns from those in the community and medical experts.
What is Power Slap League?
Power Slap is a new sport created by Dana White that aired as a reality show on TBS. Competitors have their hands behind their backs and take turns slapping each other for 30 seconds. They can’t slap below the chin or above the eye. Also, the person being slapped can’t flinch, duck, shrug, or dip their face. After each slap, the slapped person gets 30 seconds to recover and be ready to slap back. Competitors compete for three rounds and get scored, with judges declaring a winner at the end.
What the medical experts think
According to experts, Power Slap’s violence is concerning. Their primary concern is that repeated blows to the head can lead to all manner of injuries. Neurologists have condemned the sport, with Dr Rosmy Barrios, MD, a medical advisor for the Health Reporter, stating that “the face and head are particularly sensitive areas. Hence, slapping can result in injuries like cuts, bruises, broken bones, and even traumatic brain injury.” It can also lead to hearing damage, vision loss, or blindness. Additionally, it can affect mental health, causing depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Other experts have weighed in on the matter. One such expert is Dr. Brian J. Levine, a neurosurgeon and sports medicine specialist who has treated many athletes with head injuries. In an interview with Forbes, Dr. Levine stated that “the repetitive trauma to the head and neck area could potentially lead to long-term damage, including traumatic brain injury, cervical spine injury, and chronic pain syndromes.”
Another expert is Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, a neurologist and the director of the sports neurology program at the University of Michigan. In an interview with ABC News, Dr. Kutcher expressed concerns about the safety of Power Slap, stating that “any activity that involves repetitive blows to the head and neck region is concerning in terms of the potential for injury, particularly with regard to traumatic brain injury.”
Athletes don’t like Power Slap League
Boxers Billy Dib and Ryan Garcia have both criticized the sport, calling it “a horrible idea, and it needs to be stopped” and “this is not a sport; this is stupidity.” Journalists, boxing reporters, and other sports reports have also voiced their opinion that this so-called sport needs to go.
Conclusion
Medical experts and athletes alike have called into question the safety of Power Slap. However, Dana White continues to dispute the sport’s violence. As the rating drop and the sports world expresses its backlash, it remains to be seen if Power Slap will continue to be a popular form of entertainment.
Overall, the consensus among medical experts is that Power Slap’s violence and potential for repetitive blows to the head make it a risky activity. Most importantly, it has the potential for serious injury.
