"I must know his dealer, ASAP" - Fans react to Dana White claiming Power Slap "will be bigger than the UFC"
Dana White has suggested that Power Slap could potentially become bigger than the world's premier MMA organization, the UFC. The combat sports community soon responded to White's assertion.
White is credited with transforming the UFC into a multi-billion-dollar organization during his tenure as its president since 2001. He was promoted last year and is currently the UFC CEO. The US entrepreneur notably founded a professional slap-fighting organization, Power Slap, in 2022 and launched it in 2023.
Power Slap is viewed as a part of the UFC umbrella. Its content is officially promoted on the UFC's social media platforms and by UFC personalities like White.
During the Power Slap 8 (June 28, 2024) post-match press conference, the 54-year-old indicated that Power Slap and the sport of slap fighting would eventually eclipse every other sporting league and sport in the world. White, who's made similar statements in the past, stated:
"I said it. Go back... And some of you were there and heard me, in the early days. I said, 'This will be the biggest sport in the world. This will be bigger than the UFC.' This will be bigger than the UFC. Now, you can remember I said that, everybody will be like, 'Oh, he's a f**king n*t.' You know, all that sh**. And I'll see in a few years, and we'll talk again."
Check out Dana White's comments below:
Watch the full presser below:
Fight fans chimed in with their reactions to White's latest remarks. Most of them disagreed with him. Many netizens implied that Power Slap would never be bigger than the UFC, with one fan writing:
"Power Slap will never be bigger than the UFC"
Alternatively, some alluded that the organization is indeed garnering considerable attention across the sports realm. One fan seemed to suggest that it's simply entertaining, writing:
"Its just entertaining I guess lol"
However, most others highlighted that a Power Slap event wouldn't be anywhere as entertaining as a high-level UFC fight card. A fan wrote:
"Imagine gathering with the boys on a sat night/sun morning to watch people slap each other as compared to a main card like Pereira vs Jiri or smth. Tough."
Another fan jestingly hinted that White's likely utilizing recreational drugs that led to him making such comments:
"I must know his dealer, ASAP."
Check out the screenshots of a few reactions below:
When Dana White claimed Power Slap was bigger than the NHL, PGA, and NASCAR in social media reach
On The Pete and Sebastian Show earlier this year, Dana White's statements surprised many in the broader sporting dominion. The UFC's longtime head honcho signaled that in terms of social media reach, Power Slap surpassed well-established long-running sports leagues such as NASCAR, NHL, and PGA. White said:
"It's bigger than the NHL. It's bigger than the PGA, NASCAR. We're about to pass Major League Baseball."
Watch White's assessment below:
Regardless, a number of fans challenged Dana White's claims by pointing out that Power Slap hadn't outshined the aforementioned organizations and that they were still ahead in social media reach and overall popularity. White had also noted that the broadcast deal between Power Slap and Rumble was bigger than the UFC-Spike TV deal that was inked after TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) Season 1.