Cro Cop Fires Back at New Trend
Legendary fighter Mirko Filipović spares no words in criticizing Power Slap, highlighting massive health risks and meager payouts for competitors.
Legendary fighter Mirko Filipović spares no words in criticizing Power Slap, highlighting massive health risks and meager payouts for competitors.
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović, one of the greatest fighters in history, is not mincing words when it comes to the growing phenomenon of Power Slap. This controversial "fighting organization" was launched by UFC chief Dana White, where competitors take turns slapping each other with no chance to defend themselves. In an interview with Večernji list, Filipović made it clear he does not consider this a sport.
"Calling Power Slap a sport is beyond absurd," Filipović said. "It's so dangerous for the participants' health that the consequences are bound to show up, sooner or later." He explained the key difference compared to sports like MMA, kickboxing, and boxing, which are dangerous in their own right but give competitors a fundamental right. "In those sports, as a competitor, you have the right to defend yourself," he added.
Filipović goes into detail about the execution itself, which horrifies him. "In Power Slap, you stand by that table and let your opponent slap you with all their might. If they don't knock you out with the first slap-which often happens, resulting in terrifying knockouts and, of course, severe brain trauma-then you go another round of slapping. It's terrifying."
What particularly bothers him is the imbalance between risk and reward. Appearance fees for Power Slap, which recently took place in Belgrade before UFC Fight Night, amount to just a few thousand dollars. "It makes me sick to see people doing this for pocket change," Cro Cop said. "Even if the money were big, it wouldn't matter, but the pay is actually laughable, and people are taking bombs to the head with no chance to defend themselves."
He concluded that only one thing is needed to participate. "So, the skill required is zero. You just need to be crazy enough to allow it." His words come at a time when Power Slap is racking up hundreds of millions of views on social media, and one of its most famous fighters, Sheena Bathory, regularly shows off horrifying injuries and a swollen face after her bouts.
Filipović admits he understands the money motive but doubts fighters are aware of the lasting consequences. "I understand that people will do anything for money, but I don't know if they're aware of the brain trauma caused by full-force strikes to the head. It makes me sick to watch."
