Paige VanZant and Chelsea Dodson Draw at Power Slap 9
Paige VanZant returned to Power Slap at the promotion’s ninth event in Abu Dhabi on October 24, 2024. The former UFC fighter faced Chelsea “Mini Mayhem” Dodson, but the bout ended in a unanimous draw after VanZant was penalized for an illegal “clubbing” strike. Before the event, Conor McGregor had called VanZant a “legend” in a social-media exchange, drawing fresh attention to her return.
VanZant’s Power Slap Return
Power Slap 9 was VanZant’s second appearance in the league. She had debuted at Power Slap 8 in June 2024, defeating Christine Wolmarans by unanimous decision. In Abu Dhabi she met Dodson, who entered the matchup as a newcomer to the promotion. The three-round bout was scored 28-28 by all three judges, according to the official Power Slap 9 results.
The Foul That Led to the Draw
VanZant was deducted a point in the second round for “clubbing,” a strike that uses more than the permitted open-hand slap. MMA Fighting reported that the foul affected the scorecards and that VanZant accepted responsibility afterward. She said she wanted another opportunity in the promotion. Read the outlet’s post-fight report and interview.
McGregor’s Praise
McGregor’s “legend” comment was praise for VanZant, not an endorsement of the matchup or a prediction about its result. TalkSPORT covered the exchange as she prepared for the October event; its report on McGregor’s comment and her return provides the original context.
The draw left VanZant with a win and a draw in her first two Power Slap appearances. The official event recap includes the scorecards and post-match interviews.
Sources
Tags: Power Slap, Combat Sports
