Although the Power Slap League generated a lot of buzz for its controversial nature, it failed to meet the expectations of Dana White and his team during its inaugural season.
The attempt to bring slap fighting into the mainstream sports coverage faced intense criticism from fans, analysts, and UFC fighters, as well as combat athletes outside mixed martial arts. The show’s apparent health risks, which remove any chance for competitors to defend themselves, received the majority of the backlash from medical specialists, citing inescapable concussions and occurrences of CTE.
Despite the attention, viewership appeared to be lacking, which led to the finale being taken off pay-per-view and TBS deciding against airing a second season. There were also accusations that the show had fabricated social media participation, further hurting its reputation. Even “Thug Nasty,” a rising star in the MMA world, has reportedly joined the growing number of critics of the Power Slap League.
In a recent interview with Fanatics View, featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell was asked about his thoughts on the new company. Mitchell strongly opposed slap fighting, but admitted that he would consider participating if the salary offered was equivalent to that of Conor McGregor.
“It’s just a waste of time,” Mitchell said. “I mean, shoot, it’s crazy. I mean, they’d have to pay me like, f*cking McGregor money to go do that sh*t, dude. If you pay me like, $10 million, (then) yeah, I’ll f*cking go slaphappy, man.”
It appears that “Thug Nasty” will not be returning for season two of the Power Slap League, given the controversy surrounding the low pay offered to former UFC fighter Eric Spicely, who was reportedly offered just $2,000 to show and $2,000 to win. Bryce Mitchell, on the other hand, prefers “less slaps, more twisters,” a sentiment that many in the MMA community can get behind.
When Mitchell steps back into the octagon at UFC 288 on May 6th, he will be aiming for his second twister submission in the organization. The Arkansas native is determined to bounce back after suffering his first professional loss in his last fight, and will be facing off against Jonathan Pearce. Fans will undoubtedly be excited to see Mitchell in action again, showcasing his impressive grappling skills and determination to come out on top.