You do not, I repeat, not have to be an expert in crisis management to have figured this one out. Shortly after New Year’s Eve, a video emerged of UFC President Dana White slapping his wife across the face in the VIP area of a Cabo nightclub. He took responsibility, admitted fault, and apologized, but the timing could not have been worse because of what he planned on launching in a few days.
Whit’s new venture is called the “Power Slap League” and was scheduled to debut on TBS on January 11. “Was” is the operative word, as TBS has pushed the first episode until January 18.
But can this whole thing happen after the shocking footage went viral?
White had high hopes for it. Here’s what he said in November.
“The sport of slap fighting is about to go to a whole new level.”
You can’t make this stuff up.
White put this deal together completely outside of UFC’s ESPN broadcast deal. So, in other words, ESPN could not pull the plug on it.
The concept of this new sport/league is precisely what the title details. Two people slap each other in the face until one can’t take it anymore. This is a full-on combat sport. These slaps leave a mark. Former UFC star Forrest Griffin has a job with the league – he’s the official “catcher.” In other words, the dude who ensures the back of the loser’s head doesn’t pound the ground.
Back in October, the Nevada Athletic Commission made Power Slap and officially licensed sport.
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