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How Much Do Slapfighters Make?

September 4, 2024

How Much Do Slapfighters Make?

Slap fighting is probably one of the strangest sports out there, and many people are still unaware of how it works. What started small as a social media attraction in Russia over a decade ago is now slowly reaching the status of a genuine sport.

Dana White’s influence in the fighting world contributed to the sport’s status, which leads us to ask — how much do slapfighters make? If you’re as intrigued by the sport as we are, this guide will help you figure out average earnings.

Roots of Slap Fighting as a Sport

As mentioned, slap fighting rose to fame more than a decade ago in Russia, where local strongmen fought each other until one was knocked out. The sport probably gained traction on social media because of its uniqueness and fun factor.

However, through years of promotional events and substantial prizes, it has gained the status of a real sport today.

A major contributing factor to its standing was the speed at which the “matches” were played, as they were sometimes completed within minutes. The slap-fighting format lends itself to short-form clips and memes on social media, reaching millions of people worldwide. As a result, the Power Slap League was founded in 2017.

Naturally, the first few years weren’t as fruitful for fighters. Most earned several hundred bucks for winning a match, but the situation has changed dramatically. Now, slap fighters make significantly more, which isn’t surprising considering all the live broadcasts and televised events.

Average vs. Projected Top Earnings

It’s somewhat difficult to find accurate information on slap fighter earnings, but we’ve done some digging. As it turns out, the common figure turning up is $2,000 per fight, and that’s just the entry prize.

It’s been reported that slap fighters earn an additional $2,000 if they win the match. The claim was also confirmed by some former UFC fighters now slap fighters, including the famous Eric Spicely. Reportedly, the average fighter can take home $4,000 if he wins.

However, the CEO and president of UFC himself gave a different figure on one occasion. When asked about the medical implications and the integrity of the contest, Dana said that slap fighters today are “changing their family’s lives” in just one night.

As for the exact number, he estimated that powerhouse fighters earn up to $45,000 per night. So, our educated guess would be that slap fighters receive $2,000 per fight as the minimum amount all the way up to $45,000 or more.

Highest Earnings Through the Lens of the Big Leagues

Paid slap fighting started back around 2018 with the first organized contests across the globe. For instance, Europe had Punch Down in Poland and other events, while the US hosted the Slap Fighting Championship.

However, the prizes for coming on top in these events were not even close to what slap fighters earn today. Those early tournaments only added to the popularity of the sport, culminating with the introduction of Power Slap.

As stated by Dana White, Power Slap earns revenue from live-streaming services and social media, where the project generates millions of views daily. According to him, because of this popularity, Power Slap fighters get nearly as much as UFC fighters.

His claim sounded pretty ludicrous at first, but then we looked into the numbers. The average UFC fighter makes around $10,000 per fight. Even so, slap fighters are keeping up with an average salary of $2,000 per match, sometimes as high as $5,000, depending on the event.

Highest-Paid Slap Fighters

It is also worth mentioning that not all slap fighters earn the same amount. Since Power Slap is organized into categories, we suspect that fighters in the super heavyweight category make more than fighters from lower tiers like the middleweight.

According to their official rankings, here’s a list of the most successful and probably highest-paid slap fighters:

Vasilii Kamotskii
Dayne Viernes
Danie van Heerden
Kalani Vakameilalo
Makini Manu
Duane Crespo

These are just the rankings for the Super Heavyweight category, not including the champion, Koa Viernes. Damien Dibbell is also among the highest-paid fighters in the heavyweight category, while Ron Bata and John Davis stand out in their respective light categories.

The official standings are available on the official Power Slap website, and they certainly influence earnings. The ranking changes every day, incorporating the top 10 fighters of each category.

Following that logic, those top 10 fighters probably earn the most in their categories and possibly way more than the $2,000 average pay. As some unofficial reports state, it is most likely in the range of $5,000–$10,000.

Slap Fights Betting

Sponsorship deals certainly contribute to higher wages in the Power Slap world, especially thanks to betting sponsors.

Many big powerhouses have started to offer markets for slap fights, further solidifying the sport’s position. For example, you can bet on Power Slap online at DraftKings, one of the biggest betting platforms in the US.

You can also place DFS predictions on Underdog Fantasy and a few other fantasy sports platforms. StatHero is also one of the platforms allowing bettors to wager on Power Slap events against the house and not other players. As a result, our calculations must also include the bookies’ boost since the league seems to generate quite a bit of interest.

Overall, that mix of DFS and real sports betting possibilities is, without a doubt, a major indicator of slap fighter earnings. As the betting market in the US continues to grow, we can only assume that the event will profit even more from betting deals, and bettors can expect a broader range of options.

Where to Watch Slap Fighting?

Besides betting deals, Power Slap is also sponsored by several broadcasting agencies. You can watch it online on Rumble and a few other smaller agencies. Plus, you can visit the official Power Slap website, where they regularly post highlights, news, and sequences from event recaps.

As a result, the televised broadcasts make it easier for bettors to keep track of their live wagers. As the popularity of the sport is still growing, Dana White himself has announced the potential expansion of the streaming network.

If that comes to pass, fighters’ average salary will certainly be affected, especially if new broadcasting sponsors get on board.

Regional Differences in Earnings

While discussing the estimated pay of slap fighters, we’ve got one final aspect to consider, and that’s event location. It’s easy to guess that Power Slap fighters earn the most, but what about everyone else? We’ve done some digging and have found some reports that tournaments in Eastern Europe and Russia included prizes of up to $500 per fight.

Of course, that amount was handed to the winners. Then again, there are also some indications of a $5,000 winner prize being awarded in Romania. The only ground-based takeaway from all of this is that slap fighters are usually getting paid between $500 and $2,000 for winning matches in lower-tier events.

Conclusion

Our journey through the estimated salary of slap fighters ends here, and we’ve learned quite a bit from pursuing every avenue. In the US, particularly with Power Slap, fighters can make between $4,000 and $45,000 per fight, as confirmed by Dana White himself and hinted by other fighters.

We’ll leave it up to you to decide whether it’s worth the health risk, but, as Dana said, some of the best fighters are able to transform their families’ lives with just a single fight. We only expect the broadcasting network to grow in the following months and years, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if we saw even higher estimated earnings shortly.

FAQ

Are slap fighters officially paid for matches?

Yes, slap fighters are mostly paid for their matches, especially in high-profile events such as the Power Slap League.

Do the winners earn more than other participants?

In some cases and events, winners earn a bonus on top of the participation prize. According to Eric Spicely, a former UFC fighter and Power Slap contender, winners would get an extra $2,000 back in the day when the participation prize was $2,000.

How much does a Power Slap fighter earn on average?

A Power Slap contender earns between $2,000 and $45,000 per match based on the statements made by previous fighters and Dana White as the owner of the show.

Can you bet on slapfights in the US?

Yes, some bookies like DraftKings allow you to bet on slap fights in the US, while you can also make DFS predictions through channels like Prize Picks and others.