Joe Rogan Criticizes Dana White’s Power Slap League
Joe Rogan criticized Power Slap during his August 17, 2024 Fight Companion podcast, calling the sport “free brain damage” while reacting to a clip of bodybuilder Larry Wheels being knocked down by slap-fighting champion Koa Viernes. The episode is available on Spotify, and Sports Illustrated reported Rogan’s comments.
What prompted the criticism
Rogan and his guests were discussing footage of Wheels taking a hard slap from Viernes during a gym session. Rogan said he would tell a friend not to take part and described the impact as a full-force strike rather than a harmless “slap.” The remark was a blunt expression of concern about the format, not a medical diagnosis of Wheels’ condition.
Power Slap is a competitive promotion launched by UFC CEO Dana White in 2023. Contestants take turns delivering open-handed strikes under the promotion’s rules. The format has drawn criticism from athletes and commentators because participants cannot avoid a strike on their turn, and a clean hit can cause a knockout. Rogan’s comments were one more public challenge to the sport’s safety and entertainment value.
The cited sources do not establish predictions about Power Slap’s future popularity or financial success. Rogan’s exchange is best understood as criticism of a sport built around deliberate head impacts, rather than proof that any particular participant sustained a brain injury.
Sources
Tags: Slap Fighting
