"Worse than Power Slap" - UFC 304 fighters react to Alex Ovechkin’s infamous NHL KO that once impressed Joe Rogan and Conor McGregor
UFC 304 stars recently reacted to footage of NHL star Alex Ovechkin knocking out a member of the opposition team while skating on ice. The Washinton Capitals captain's infamous three-punch KO of Carolina Hurricanes star Andrei Svechnikov during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs made waves in combat sports circles.
The incident even caught the attention of personalities like Conor McGregor and Joe Rogan. It's no secret that the NHL sees its fair share of on-the-ice violence, and fans often see their favorite ice hockey stars throwing haymakers at each other while skating.
Given the exciting volatility of the sport, it's unsurprising that UFC fighters shared their thoughts on some of the historic knockouts that took place in the NHL.
During an interview with Sportsnet before the UFC 304 event, MMA stars like Leon Edwards, Belal Muhammad, Tom Aspinall, and Paddy Pimblett shared their reactions to NHL brawls.
The fighters were particularly impressed by Ovechkin's striking prowess, with Muhammad making an intriguing observation. He said:
"They're just holding and throwing. They're so nonchalant about it. Oh, that was Ovechkin!... Hockey fights are worse than Power Slap."
Pimblett pointed out that they were swinging despite wearing helmets and said:
"Crazy them though, just punching each other with helmets on. It's gonna hurt your hand... When I think of this, I just think of goon."
Aspinall also shared his thoughts and said:
"Oh, they're going at it. Oh, he's knocked him out, again!... Standard procedure, I'll just have a sit-down, let this fella' come around a little bit."
When Joe Rogan and Conor McGregor reacted to NHL star Alex Ovechkin knocking out Alex Svechnikov
Apart from having top-notch hockey skills on the ice, Alex Ovechkin is also known for his impressive punching power, which gained notoriety after he knocked out Alex Svechnikov during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Ovechkin's punching prowess notably caught the attention of UFC commentator Joe Rogan, who shared his thoughts on the KO during an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. He said:
"That’s a good KO. He’s out cold. Look at that. Oh yeah, that guy can punch. You’re punching in the face while he’s punching you in the face, too. It’s chaos."
Similarly, Ovechkin received high praise from former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor after his KO reel was shared by the promotion on social media. McGregor lauded Ovechkin as a "Proper Russian" and wrote in an X post:
"Congrats @ovi8! A Proper Russian. Great to meet you in Moscow big man, see you again soon! They can run, but they can’t hide."