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UFC commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan has voiced his disappointment over UFC CEO Dana White’s decision to invest in Power Slap, a slap-fighting league that White launched in late 2022. While the promotion has gained traction with events in locations like Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, Rogan remains unconvinced by the sport’s appeal and believes White would have been better off investing in kickboxing.
Rogan Prefers Kickboxing Over Slap Fighting
Speaking on his Fight Companion for UFC Fight Night 255, Rogan expressed his disapproval of slap fighting and reiterated that kickboxing would have been a more exciting and lucrative alternative.
“I think the UFC f***ed up when they went with slap fighting,” Rogan stated.
“I’ve been telling them forever, ‘You guys should get into kickboxing.’ If you only like standup fights, it’s not like the old days of kickboxing where they were boring. The knockouts are f****ng crazy.”
Rogan argued that introducing kickboxing with MMA gloves in a cage could be a game-changer for the UFC. He emphasized that such a format would attract a significant fan base due to its high-intensity knockouts and dynamic action.
Glory Kickboxing’s Influence on UFC
Rogan highlighted Glory Kickboxing as an example of an organization that has produced elite-level talent, including two of the UFC’s biggest stars—Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira. Both former UFC champions transitioned from Glory Kickboxing to MMA and found immense success in the octagon.
“Kickboxing with MMA gloves in a cage would be giant. Just have a striking-only segment of the UFC. Glory’s got some elite fighters. I watch Glory all the time. It’s fcking exciting, but nobody’s watching it. Nobody knows who these people are.”
UFC’s Venture into Jiu-Jitsu and Boxing
White invested in slap fighting, UFC has expanded its wingspan into other combat sports. The promotion has now signed five-time IBJJF world champion Mikey Musumeci in an exclusive deal where his jiu-jitsu matches will stream on UFC Fight Pass.
Moreover, White's TKO Group Holdings and Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, are launching a new boxing promotion.
Missed Opportunity for the Expansion of Kickboxing
In the light of all these different avenues, Rogan still thinks that kickboxing remains a missed opportunity for the UFC. He said that the striking-only segment may bring yet another audience to the table, along with the rest of the world. Rogan believes that knockouts with the world's top fighters would give fans great stand-up brawls in a cage with smaller gloves.
And while the UFC branches into various combat sports, perhaps Rogan's call for a kickboxing focus might someday prove an avenue worth pursuing. At the moment, however, it is clear enough that Power Slap is still a priority for Dana White, even if Rogan has some lingering questions about its future and effectiveness.
