While the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, garnered all the attention for the UFC’s latest event, many fans were unaware that just two days earlier, the venue also hosted Dana White‘s Power Slap event, Power Slap 11. In this high-stakes rematch, Layne ‘Da Crazy Hawaiian’ Viernes faced Vasiliy ‘The Dumpling’ Kamotsky, with the latter ultimately dethroning the reigning champion to claim the title. However, Kamotsky’s journey has an unexpected twist. At one point, he made a rather unusual request to Dana White and the Power Slap organization—he asked for a goat.

Dana White shared this surprising story during a conversation with Tucker Carlson on YouTube, explaining how he first met Siberian slap-fighting sensation, now the reigning heavyweight Power Slap champion. This encounter played a key role in the creation of the Power Slap organization in 2022. White revealed that when ‘The Dumpling’ was first paid, he asked for not only $25,000 but also three goats.

Dana White reflected, saying, “What’s crazy is, two nights ago, we did the event here, and the guy who won the world title was the guy who got me into it when I started watching this stuff a few years ago. This guy named Dumpling, out of Siberia, Russia. Okay, best, I’m not kidding you. I’m not kidding you. When we first paid him, I think he wanted $25,000 and three goats.”

Tucker Carlson, intrigued, asked, “Were the goats male or female?” Dana White responded with a laugh, saying, “Goats? Yeah, that’s a good question. I don’t know the answer to that. Good question, but he got $25,000 and three goats. That was the first. Yeah, Dumpling from Siberia, the guy who got me into this, became the world champion here in Saudi Arabia.” Although Power Slap competitions may not have the best reputation, they have garnered considerable popularity within Russian circuits. It was through these connections that Dana White discovered Vasiliy Kamotsky and brought him into his Power Slap venture.

However, despite Dana White’s ownership of the promotion, many of his UFC peers remain skeptical of the $500 million Power Slap enterprise. Notably, high-profile UFC figures, such as Jon Jones, have referred to it as a “wild sport,” while fighters like Alex Pereira made an impact in the arena when he attended Power Slap 10 held at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Additionally, Dana White’s longtime associate and UFC commentator, Joe Rogan, has joined the ranks of critics of the promotion.

Joe Rogan’s advice to Dana White over the Power Slap investment

“I know they’re invested in this slap-fighting sh*t, but instead of that, they could have a kickboxing league. I think they don’t believe people would get into kickboxing, but I think they’re wrong,” Joe Rogan remarked on Dana White’s multi-million dollar Power Slap promotion during an appearance with UFC two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya on JRE MMA show #164.

Rogan suggested that Dana White should redirect his resources toward growing the UFC’s international footprint, similar to how ONE Championship has expanded by offering not just MMA, but also submission grappling and Muay Thai titles. He continued, “I wish the UFC would focus on that, instead of pouring $500 million into Power Slap.” Furthermore, concerns have been raised by experts like neurologist Chris Nowinski, a former wrestler, who has criticized Power Slap as “pure exploitation.” He highlights the potential risks, especially long-term brain injuries, associated with slap-fighting.

So, with all this in mind, what are your thoughts on Dana White’s Power Slap promotion? Do you believe it can eventually gain the same level of recognition and acceptance as MMA did in the early 2000s, transforming the views of fans and critics alike? Feel free to share your opinion below.