A pocket of ice placed under the nape of the neck, the reddened left cheek, Russel Rivero seems confused. Two members of the organization prevent him from getting up, and encourage him to come to his senses. “I beat him”, delirious however the fellow of 90 kilos, totally stunned after having cashed a potato from space. In lack of benchmarks, the Texan has lost his “fight”, and a lot of lucidity.
Here, in a few seconds, is the whole spirit of the power-slap : brutal knockouts, without the possibility of defending oneself, a show with a licked realization with the assumed goal of virality. The slapping competition was launched in January by Dana White, boss of the most highly rated MMA organization (UFC). “Two years ago, I started watching videos of guys slapping each other on social media and I was immediately interested,” says the world MMA boss, quoted by RMC.
“The main risk is concussion”
The violence of the practice immediately caused controversy. Blows at full power, at the level of the head, few rest periods between clashes. The question of the physical integrity of the participants arose. Perrine Capron, doctor for the French men’s and women’s English boxing teams, comments: “What is certain is that there is, as in boxing, the intention to strike, but here without the desire to protect oneself. It is a questionable practice from an ethical and medical point of view. The main risk is concussion. When you receive a slap, it causes head trauma, the main component of which is rotational. This rotational movement of the head at the time of impact is a factor favoring the development of a concussion.
In addition to brain damage, the practice can also cause trauma to the jaw, further indicates our expert. And Perrine Capron to resume: “When you are concussed, you must not resume an impact to the head as long as the concussion symptoms are present, and it is necessary to rest. For example, a knocked out boxer must be rested for at least 28 days”.
A “completely stupid” practice
If Conor McGregor, one of the superstars of the UFC, seems conquered by the discipline, other fighters do not hesitate to question this slap contest. “It’s completely stupid. There is no sport, there is no art behind it, criticizes a French MMA fighter, on condition of anonymity. I slap you, you slap me, it’s a bar thing. Other than causing concussions, it’s useless. » Sean O’Malley, another illustrious UFC fighter, has very little taste for the show: “I don’t know if I can watch it because I understand what concussions are. I have been there. I know how bad it is to do that to his brain. »
Because you have to know that the rules of these confrontations are simple. The fighters are divided into several weight categories, as in combat sports. The “giver” of slaps must keep his support on the ground, while the “receiver” takes the hits by putting his hands behind his back. Participants have thirty seconds to kick and thirty seconds to cash. The fight takes place in a maximum of three rounds. But, in practice, the player who starts (the order is fixed by drawing lots) has a very good chance of winning from the first slap.
To counter these criticisms, Dana White highlights the dangerousness of boxing and MMA fights. An argument swept away by Guillaume Duseaux, creator of La Sueur, a specialized MMA media: “In a big MMA fight, the guys take a hundred hits, but very few at full power, because they protect themselves. There, it is much more dangerous. With this practice, if you participate in a fight, you know that you will take at least one concussion. Looking at the profile of the selected, we can see that they are not top athletes. In my opinion, it is rather cannon fodder. There is no mentally balanced person who can say to himself: I am going to take a peach without protecting myself. »
Strangers looking for a rebound
Still, Dana White thinks she’s sniffed out a good deal. Coming from Eastern European countries, the competition fascinates Internet users, at least as much as it disgusts them. Declined in series, the first video of the power-slap broadcast on YouTube garnered more than a million views, while the inaugural TV broadcast in January attracted nearly 300,000 people. “Economically speaking, it’s very interesting for the UFC. It is easy and very inexpensive for them to organize this type of event. It happens behind closed doors, the competitors are paid approximately $2,000 to show up, and win an additional $2,000 if they win, analyzes Guillaume Duseaux. In comparison, for a UFC fighter, the minimum contract is $10,000, plus $10,000 if they win. »
Two thousand dollars for “no names” with unreassuring pedigrees. A quick tour of the workforce allows you to realize this. Alex Asbury disputed five professional boxing fights, for five defeats by KO Jewel Scott, Carrese Archer or Nicolae Solcoci are former MMA fighters, far from the UFC level. They all have a win/loss ratio in the red.
Boxer, bodybuilder, brawler, wrestler, etc. There power-slap has “hired” fighters with dented life paths, looking for media coverage to revive their careers. “To be honest, my son is not growing as he should. This competition can change my life and that of my family. There are so many issues, “said Mike Webster before his fight. A slap later, the Chicago native will leave stunned, and defeated.
Regardless of the bad press, the UFC, already criticized for its lack of consideration and guarantees given to MMA athletes, wants to capitalize on its new activity. Its goal ? Transform the Web phenomenon into a practice accepted and acclaimed by the general public. And Dana White to respond frontally to his detractors: “Does it disgust you? Watch The Voice »