Dana White Sees Great Growth Potential for Power Slap Alongside UFC

As CNBC Top News reports (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/18/ufc-dana-white-power-slap-boxing.html), Dana White, President and CEO of the UFC, shared his assessment of the future of combat sports at the Game Plan Conference in New York. He sees enormous growth potential in the emerging discipline of Power Slap, which could be comparable to that of the UFC.

Power Slap as a New Sport in Focus

Power Slap is a relatively new combat sport where participants take turns slapping each other with open palms. Despite the unusual and controversial nature of this sport, it has gained popularity in recent years, not least due to media-savvy marketing and the involvement of prominent figures from the combat sports scene. Dana White emphasized that Power Slap is not just a short-lived trend but has the potential to establish itself as an independent and lucrative sport. He sees it as an opportunity to reach new target groups and expand the UFC’s offerings without neglecting the traditional MMA core competencies.

Economic Significance and Market Opportunities

Over the past decades, the UFC has established itself as the world’s leading organization in Mixed Martial Arts, generating billions in annual revenue through pay-per-view events, sponsorships, and merchandising. The integration or parallel promotion of Power Slap could open new revenue streams and further expand the UFC brand’s reach. Especially younger viewers, who are looking for new and entertaining sports formats, could be attracted by Power Slap. The simple rule structure and high media staging offer attractive conditions for streaming platforms and social media, which in turn attract advertising partners and investors.

Challenges and Criticism

Despite the positive forecasts, there are also critical voices questioning the injury risk and sporting legitimacy of Power Slap. The UFC and Dana White must therefore ensure that safety standards are met and that the sport is professionally developed to gain long-term acceptance among fans and athletes.

Why It Matters

The development of new sports like Power Slap shows how dynamic and innovative the sports market is today. For companies like the UFC, this means they must be flexible in responding to trends and diversify their portfolio to remain competitive. For fans and investors, this opens up a broader spectrum of entertainment and business opportunities. Dana White’s statement also underlines the importance of promoting new concepts alongside established formats to actively shape the future of sports.

Outlook

Whether Power Slap will actually achieve a similar significance as MMA depends on many factors, including acceptance by athletes, viewers, and media, as well as the ability of organizers to professionally market and further develop the sport. However, Dana White’s optimistic assessment could be a signal for further investments and innovations in this area.