From viral YouTube clips to organized combat sport — Power Slap makes its regional debut at Abu Dhabi Showdown Week

From viral YouTube clips to organized combat sport — Power Slap makes its regional debut at Abu Dhabi Showdown Week
Power Slap President Frank Lamicella (right) with UFC boss Dana White. (Supplied)
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Updated 23 October 2024

From viral YouTube clips to organized combat sport — Power Slap makes its regional debut at Abu Dhabi Showdown Week

From viral YouTube clips to organized combat sport — Power Slap makes its regional debut at Abu Dhabi Showdown Week
  • Power Slap president Frank Lamicella spoke to Arab News about the brand’s partnership with UFC and its growth around the world
  • Space42 Arena will host contest between Da Crazy Hawaiian and Dumpling on Oct. 24

DUBAI: From a YouTube curiosity to an organized combat sport owned by no less an organization than Dana White’s Ultimate Fighting Championship, Power Slap has now made its way to the Middle East.

For those unfamiliar with these viral online clips, Power Slap is exactly what it sounds like — two contestants stand face to face and slap each other, and the last man standing wins.

And on Thursday, as part of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week 2024 (which culminates with UFC 308 on Oct. 26) Space42 Arena will host the region’s first Power Slap contest between two of the sport’s biggest names — Da Crazy Hawaiian and Dumpling.

Power Slap president Frank Lamicella told Arab News: “Dana has talked about this a lot, but the history of Power Slap is about five (or) six years ago, we started seeing these clips on YouTube, slap fighting clips. It was very disorganized.

“These clips were doing like 300 million views. This was around 2018. And I think it’s kind of come full circle, because the first guy that Dana ever watched in these clips was Dumpling, who’s in our Super Heavyweight Championship fight.”

While the sport’s development was halted by the global pandemic, Lamicella and UFC still had big plans.

“We got a group together and we basically ran a pilot out of the Apex. We ran about 30 matches, wrote the rules, worked on the production, really dialed in the whole sport. Then the first thing we did was got it regulated by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. And here we are,” he said.

Eight events later, Power Slap moved to Durango Casino for this year’s Super Bowl weekend, which was “a huge hit.”

“And now we’re at Fountain Blue in Las Vegas,” said Lamicella. “We did an event during International Fight Week this year. And right after that, we signed a five-event extension with Fountain Blue. They’ll be our home in Las Vegas for Power Slap events.”

Next up, though, is Space42 Arena in Al-Raha: “Obviously super excited to bring the first event to Abu Dhabi. We’ve had a longstanding relationship with the Department of Culture and Tourism and Abu Dhabi, and we’re really excited to add it to Showdown Week.”

From modest early viewing numbers, Power Slap audiences have grown rapidly.

Lamicella said: “This is what we’re super excited about, now we’re able to travel the show. We started at Apex probably around 300-400 people, invite only. We didn’t sell any tickets for the first four or five events. And then we started selling just VIP packages, which sold out immediately. And then we saw that fans were interested in coming to the event.”

He continued: “We went a little bigger at Durango, probably up to 800-1,000 people. Then at Fallon Blue, we had over 3,500 people there and sold that show out. So the event is extremely fun, it’s run very different than other sporting events.

“It’s around three hours, but it’s almost like it’s a party atmosphere and it’s full of influencers, celebrities, and the fights are great. There are incredible moments during each slap match, and that’s what we think fans love.”

The popularity of organized Power Slap is on the rise in the US and Lamicella is confident it will spread globally.

“When it first started, it was coming out of Russia, Poland, and America. Over the last six months, I’ve seen leagues pop up in Mexico, I’ve seen leagues pop up in South Africa. We have some experienced slap fighters from South Africa that are on our roster now,” he said.

“We’ve seen a league pop up in South Korea. I think what’s fascinating is, for example, that South Korea league, they run MMA fights and then started doing some slap fights. The slap fights, we’re doing 200 million views for them on Instagram. And the MMA fights out of that league, we’re doing half a million. So I think you’re going to see more and more leagues, especially as we continue to legitimize the sport and do what we’re doing, bringing it around the world and putting it in front of a variety of different fans.”

Power Slap will also be making its way to , after UFC recently announced a partnership with Riyadh Season.

“We’re planning an event in Riyadh in January next year,” said Lamicella. “We’re excited to go around the region and continue to build.”

For now, in Abu Dhabi on Thursday evening, all eyes will be on Da Crazy Hawaiian and his inspiration, Dumpling.

“We knew from the beginning this would be a match that would happen,” said Lamicella. “To start with Dumpling, the first fight he was ever in was in Power Slap 8, in June. He’s a farmer from Siberia. He had to take five flights to Las Vegas.

“We got him out here early. We worked with him a little bit because the rules he was used to in Russia are a little different here in Power Slap. And then he comes on stage and knocks this guy out in one slap. And it was a huge moment for us, we knew he would be on a collision course with Da Crazy Hawaiian.

“Da Crazy Hawaiian was one of the first guys we brought over to Power Slap. He was the existing super heavyweight champion at another promotion in the US. He’s undefeated in Power Slap. And he looked up to the Dumpling — Dumpling is the reason he got into slap fighting. So now we have them coming head to head. I think it’s going to go down as a legendary title slap-fighting match. When we look back five years from now, we’ll look at this match and say hey, that was one for the record books.”


PSG in Intercontinental Cup final in December

PSG in Intercontinental Cup final in December
Updated 54 sec ago

PSG in Intercontinental Cup final in December

PSG in Intercontinental Cup final in December
  • European Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain will play their first ever Intercontinental Cup final in Doha, Qatar, on December 17, FIFA announced on Sunday
PARIS: European Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain will play their first ever Intercontinental Cup final in Doha, Qatar, on December 17, FIFA announced on Sunday.
Their opponents will only be determined four days earlier in the final playoff, called the Challenger Cup.
This will pit Egyptian club Pyramids, the African champions, against the winner of the match between Central American champions Cruz Azul from Mexico and the future winner of the Copa Libertadores.
The South American tournament is currently in the semifinal stage and includes two Brazilian sides.
Palmeiras are up against LDU Quito of Ecuador while Flamengo take on the Argentinian side Racing.
The Copa Libertadores final takes place on November 29.
From 1960 to 2004, the Intercontinental Cup pitted the champions of Europe and South America against each other.
In 2005, it was renamed the Club World Cup to include other continental champions but that competition was relaunched this year as a quadrennial tournament featuring 32 teams with Chelsea as the inaugural winners of the new format.
The Intercontinental Cup was itself relaunched in its new form last year when Real Madrid beat Mexican club Pachuca.

Alcaraz powers into Japan Open semis, Rune crashes out

Alcaraz powers into Japan Open semis, Rune crashes out
Updated 28 September 2025

Alcaraz powers into Japan Open semis, Rune crashes out

Alcaraz powers into Japan Open semis, Rune crashes out
  • “These kind of matches help to keep my confidence really, really high. I played some great tennis,” Alcaraz said

TOKYO:World number one Carlos Alcaraz stormed into the semifinals of the Japan Open on Sunday with a commanding 6-2 6-4 win over American Brandon Nakashima, while Danish third seed Holger Rune was sent packing by Jenson Brooksby.
Alcaraz, who overcame an injury scare in his straight-sets win over Argentine Sebastian Baez in Thursday’s opener, showed scintillating form to dispatch Nakashima for his 65th win of the season, thumping 39 winners in the one-hour 20-minute contest.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, fresh from reclaiming top spot in the world rankings after clinching his sixth Grand Slam title at the US Open earlier this month, next faces Norwegian fourth seed Casper Ruud.
Earlier, Ruud blazed past Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic with a clinical 6-3 6-2 win.
“These kind of matches help to keep my confidence really, really high. I played some great tennis,” Alcaraz said.
“It’s great to go through, to play another semifinal. It’s special, because it’s the first time I’m playing in Japan, here in Tokyo. To reach the semis in my first appearance is something great.”
The biggest upset of the day came in Rune’s 6-3 6-3 loss to American Brooksby, ranked 86th in the world.
“Once I get on a roll from a couple of matches, I just think I’m really able to get into my zone. I think that’s one of my big strengths,” Brooksby said.
“I thought I had a pretty good plan on him coming out here. I had never played him before, but I think that’s good maybe, someone who hasn’t faced my unique skills, I guess.
“I had a good rhythm from the first two matches and thought I was playing really good tennis, and I think I just stayed a little bit more consistent today.”
Wimbledon semifinalist Taylor Fritz overcame a second-set blip to beat Sebastian Korda 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3 in an all-American clash.
Second seed Fritz, who is set to climb to fourth in the ATP rankings on Monday, overtaking Novak Djokovic, will take on Brooksby in the semis.


Sharjah Self-Defence Club leads Round 7 of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Sharjah Self-Defence Club leads Round 7 of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Updated 28 September 2025

Sharjah Self-Defence Club leads Round 7 of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Sharjah Self-Defence Club leads Round 7 of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
  • In youth division competition at Zayed Sports Complex in Fujairah, Palms Sports were second and Al Ain Club third

FUJAIRAH: The seventh round of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship got underway at Zayed Sports Complex in Fujairah on Saturday with U-12, U-14 and U-16 athletes competing in the highly anticipated No-Gi category.

By the end of the day, Sharjah Self-Defence Club had maintained its lead in the overall rankings, followed by Palms Sports in second and Al-Ain Club in third.

Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al-Dhaheri, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, praised the UAE’s emerging jiu-jitsu talent, saying that Round 7 shows significant progress in the younger divisions.

“The great performances we witnessed today offer hope for the future, demonstrating that we have a strong foundation capable of competing regionally and internationally,” he said.

“Today’s event in Fujairah went beyond sport, it became a national celebration, bringing together athletes and families under one roof. The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship has been deeply ingrained in our social fabric, imparting noble values like discipline, tenacity, and respect while bringing communities together across the emirates,” Al-Dhaheri added.

The competition continues on Sunday with the U-18, Adults, and Masters categories, with the ultimate No-Gi winner of the season to be determined.


Al-Ittihad sack coach Laurent Blanc after 2-0 loss to Al-Nassr

Al-Ittihad sack coach Laurent Blanc after 2-0 loss to Al-Nassr
Updated 28 September 2025

Al-Ittihad sack coach Laurent Blanc after 2-0 loss to Al-Nassr

Al-Ittihad sack coach Laurent Blanc after 2-0 loss to Al-Nassr

Al-Ittihad have sacked manager Laurent Blanc, the Saudi Pro League club said on Saturday following their 2-0 defeat against Al-Nassr a day earlier.
“Al-Ittihad announces the termination of its contractual relationship with the first team’s head coach Mr.Laurent Blanc and his coaching staff,” the club said on X.
Al-Ittihad added that they were also looking for “new technical staff that matches the club’s ambitions.”
Blanc took charge of Al-Ittihad in July last year and led the team to a domestic double, winning both the league title and the King’s Cup.
However, the team began the new season by exiting the Saudi Super Cup in the semifinals following a loss to Al-Nassr, before suffering a second defeat to the Riyadh-based side in the league on Friday. They are third in the standings, three points behind Al-Nassr.
 


Europe take a record lead into Ryder Cup’s Sunday singles

Europe take a record lead into Ryder Cup’s Sunday singles
Updated 28 September 2025

Europe take a record lead into Ryder Cup’s Sunday singles

Europe take a record lead into Ryder Cup’s Sunday singles
  • When a long, loud and obnoxious day ended, Europe set a record for the largest lead going into Sunday singles under the format that dates to 1979: Europe 11 1/2, USA 4 1/2
  • Barring the greatest comeback — or collapse — in Ryder Cup history, the Europeans will be heading back across the Atlantic Ocean with that precious gold trophy

FARMINGDALE, N.Y.: Europe painted Bethpage Black in blue scores Saturday with exquisite golf that demolished and disheartened the Americans, and proved to be the best response to a New York Ryder Cup crowd that was so hostile extra security was brought in to keep it from getting worse.

When a long, loud and obnoxious day ended, Europe set a record for the largest lead going into Sunday singles under the format that dates to 1979: Europe 11 1/2, USA 4 1/2.

“I didn’t imagine this,” European captain Luke Donald said. “Every time the Americans came at us, we came back. The resiliency and confidence they have is really, truly incredible.”

Rory McIlroy caught the brunt of verbal abuse and at one point turned to the spectators and said, “Shut the (expletive) up.” And then he stuffed his shot to 5 feet for birdie that closed out the foursomes match for another blue point.

It was like that all day. The louder the crowd, the better Europe played. And barring the greatest comeback — or collapse — in Ryder Cup history, the Europeans will be heading back across the Atlantic Ocean with that precious gold trophy.

“I’m seeing what looks like to be historical putting. They’re making everything,” US captain Keegan Bradley said. “They’re a great team. They’re great players. They’re a tough team to beat.”

The previous record after the four sessions of team play was 11-5. No team has rallied from more than a four-point deficit on the last day. Europe needs to win only three of the 12 singles matches for the outright win.

Scottie Scheffler also made it into the Ryder Cup record book. The world’s No. 1 player is the first to go 0-4 under the current format.

Nothing summed up the week for the Americans quite like the 10th hole in fourballs. Tommy Fleetwood hit a wedge about 2 feet under the hole. Scheffler followed with a shot that hit the hole and the base of the pin, then caromed into the rough.

But it was far more than one shot. Europe holed putts from big and small, often getting shouted at by the spectators as they lined up the shots. Nothing stopped them.

The Americans had a lead in only three of the 70 holes played in fourballs Saturday afternoon. US Open champion J.J. Spaun hit it tight on the 17th and 18th for birdies as he and fellow San Diego State alum Xander Schauffele squeezed out one of only two US points on the day.

The other belonged to DeChambeau and Cameron Young in the opening foursomes match.

The New York fans didn’t turn on the Americans for their performance. They cranked up the noise against Europe, shouting at them in the moments before — but not during — their shots, booing at every turn.

“Look, in between shots, say whatever you want to me,” McIlroy said. “That’s totally fine. Give us the respect to let us hit shots, and give us the same chance that the Americans have.”

New York State police spokesman Beau Duffy said two fans were ejected. The PGA of America said it added security to the McIlroy match and the other three. It also posted a message on the large video boards on “Spectator Etiquette.”

“Attendees consuming alcohol should do so in a responsible manner. Overly intoxicated attendees will be removed from the premises.”

Fans booed when the message was displayed.

McIlroy ultimately got the last laugh. He is unbeaten in his four matches. Fleetwood is 4-0 and can become the first European to go 5-0 on the road if he wins his singles match.

Whatever chances the Americans had might have ended on the final hole of the final match. Patrick Cantlay holed a few more big putts to keep them in the game, and a win on the 18th hole would have cut the deficit to five points.

Matt Fitzpatrick hit out of a bunker to 2 feet. Tyrrell Hatton, a last-minute sub for Viktor Hovland and his sore neck, hit wedge that nicked his teammate’s ball. It was another example of Europe’s superior play.

Cantlay’s shot spun back against the thick collar of the rough, and Sam Burns could only manage a shot to about 20 feet. Both missed. The throaty cheers of “Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole” returned, and the few American fans who stuck around that long were on their way home.

It got a little testy inside the ropes, too.

Fleetwood and Rose had a 3-up lead on the 15th over Scheffler and DeChambeau. Rose was first to putt from about 15 feet. But he felt DeChambeau’s caddie was in his space as he was lining up his putt and he told him so.

Rose made the putt, and DeChambeau matched him from 12 feet. DeChambeau barked at them going to the 16th tee and soon the caddies were involved.

There was warm handshakes a hole later when Europe won.

“I didn’t feel like that space was being honored,” Rose said. “I made my feelings known — asked him to move, maybe not as politely as I could have done, but in the scenario, it’s coming down the stretch. We both have a lot on our minds and it’s intense out there.

“I said to them, ‘If I should have done it a different way, I apologize.’ But other than that, I had to step up and hit a huge putt with a lot going on.”

Bradley was asked what message he would give to his team to keep hopes alive, and the New England native pointed to the Patriots’ stunning comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in 2017.

“Twenty-eight to three. I was at that Super Bowl,” Bradley said. “I watched it. What a cool thing to have witnessed live in person.”

The way this Ryder Cup has played out, 11 1/2 to 4 1/2 feels much bigger.