Dana White has never been shy about defending Power Slap, his latest foray into combat sports-style entertainment. But despite his repeated claims that the controversial league is “safe” under regulation, critics are getting louder — and now, one of the most popular doctors on the internet has stepped into the ring.
Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, better known as Dr. Mike on YouTube, didn’t pull any punches during his recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. And he didn’t mince words when it came to Power Slap.
“Someone needs to come out and speak out against this,” he said. “It needs to be stopped.”
“I’m actually filming a video on the topic right now on … the most dangerous sports. And to me like, it takes the worst part about combat sports and accelerates it. Like, why is boxing problematic? Repeated a blows to the head if someone’s not protecting themselves. And here, the whole point is to not protect yourself and take blows. So it’s literally taking the unhealthiest aspect and removing the healthiest aspect, which is all the cardio, the training that’s required to box. So like, to me it’s a nonsense sport,” Dr. Mike added.
Doctor Mike on Slap Fighting: To me, it’s a nonsense sport.#HelwaniShow pic.twitter.com/M3oyPaT2Lu
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) July 30, 2025
Dr. Mike, who has over 10 million subscribers and a professional boxing match under his belt, is widely known for breaking down complex medical issues with clarity. But this week, his diagnosis was blunt: Power Slap isn’t just absurd — it’s dangerous.
He’s not alone. Despite approvals in places like Florida and California, other states are pushing back. Alabama is actively trying to ban it. And in Nevada — the epicenter of legalized combat sports — one of the very people who originally helped greenlight Power Slap is now expressing regret.
“I made a mistake,” said Stephen J. Cloobeck, the former Nevada Athletic Commission chairman who once gave the league the thumbs-up.
Still, Dana White is doubling down. His argument? Regulation equals safety.
“Why wouldn’t you want it to be regulated?” he said last year. “We’re taking a lot of the risk out of combat sports.”
But critics say regulation alone isn’t enough — not when the entire premise of the “sport” involves standing still and absorbing an undefended blow to the head. With more voices joining the chorus, including respected physicians like Dr. Mike, the pressure on Power Slap and its promoters is only growing.
Is it controversial? Sure. But it’s also incredibly successful.
The promotion that is broadcast only on social media recenlty closed a giant $76 million six-year deal.
