Slap Fighting: A Legal Time Bomb Waiting to Explode?

Austin Jones
Jun 7
4 min read

Slap Fighting: A Legal Time Bomb Waiting to Explode?

As combat sports continue to evolve, so too does the science behind the long-term effects of head trauma. The UFC, once seen as the pinnacle of fighting, has recently found itself at the center of a growing number of lawsuits concerning fighter safety, brain injuries, and long-term health concerns. Fighters, like many athletes in contact sports, have experienced the terrifying consequences of repeated blows to the head. Now, as evidence linking Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) to repeated head injuries continues to build, the world of combat sports, including relatively new forms like Slap Fighting, could be facing a ticking legal time bomb.

UFC's Legal Troubles: A Glimpse Into the Future

The UFC has been embroiled in a series of high-profile lawsuits that paint a grim picture of fighter management within the promotion. Recent cases highlight concerns about the long-term health risks fighters face due to head trauma, including accusations of negligence over concussion management, underreporting of injuries, and inadequate medical care. Lawsuits involving former fighters like Shane Carwin and Phil Davis have put the UFC on notice—fighter safety is now a serious legal issue.

At the heart of these lawsuits is the emerging research about CTE, a degenerative brain disease that’s found in athletes who have sustained repeated head impacts. As more studies confirm the link between combat sports and CTE, promotions like the UFC are facing increasing pressure to revise their safety protocols and reconsider how they manage head injuries.

While the UFC has already been criticized for its handling of fighter health, a newer form of combat sport—Slap Fighting—could find itself in an even more precarious legal position in the future. Slap Fighting, a spectacle where opponents take turns delivering open-handed slaps to each other with no defense, could soon find itself under the same scrutiny as the UFC.

Slap Fighting: A Dangerous Attraction?

On the surface, Slap Fighting might seem like a simple, no-frills version of combat sports: two opponents standing in front of each other, trading slaps to the face with the goal of knocking their opponent out. No wrestling, no strikes to the body—just raw, unfiltered head trauma. While it may look like an entertaining and relatively safe form of competition compared to mixed martial arts, it’s also fundamentally dangerous. And it’s growing in popularity.

In Slap Fighting, fighters have no defense and are forced to stand still and absorb massive hits to the face. It’s a brutal contest of pure willpower, but the implications for long-term health are chilling. Head trauma, whether it comes from a punch, kick, or slap, can lead to CTE, and with no defensive strategies in place, the risk is even higher.

The Future of Slap Fighting: Legal Landmine?

Given the increasing awareness of CTE and brain injuries in combat sports, Slap Fighting promotions could find themselves on the receiving end of lawsuits in the not-so-distant future. As more evidence linking repeated headshots to serious, life-altering conditions comes to light, athletes and their families are likely to demand accountability from organizations that promote this kind of brutal competition.

The UFC has already been faced with legal action from fighters claiming that the organization didn’t do enough to protect them from long-term health risks. It’s not hard to imagine that Slap Fighting leagues, especially with their no-defense rule sets, could soon be under the microscope as well. With head trauma being a primary concern in combat sports, a sport that revolves around taking massive shots to the face with no defense could quickly become a target for litigation.

One key issue is the absence of any protective measures in Slap Fighting. In traditional boxing or MMA, fighters are taught defensive strategies to avoid absorbing full-force blows to the head. But in Slap Fighting, fighters are left completely vulnerable, which could increase the likelihood of serious injuries. Without proper safeguards, the sport could find itself exposed to lawsuits related to negligence, particularly as the medical community continues to shine a light on the dangers of repetitive head trauma.

UFC’s Warnings: Are Slap Fight Promotions Next?

The UFC's recent string of lawsuits over fighter management, pay structure, and health - could serve as a warning for other combat sports promotions. As the research into CTE deepens, there will likely be more legal action taken against any promotion that facilitates dangerous competition without adequate protection for its athletes. Slap Fighting, with its inherent vulnerability to headshots, could be a prime candidate for such legal challenges in the near future.

As the UFC deals with the aftermath of its own legal woes, other combat sports, like Slap Fighting, could soon face similar backlash. Promotions could be forced to change their rule sets or implement strict safety protocols to avoid further legal ramifications.

What Can Slap Fighting Learn from the UFC?

As Slap Fighting continues to grow in popularity, the question remains: How will it adapt to the increasing focus on head trauma in combat sports? UFC's recent lawsuits have forced the organization to confront its role in fighter safety, and other sports may be next. Slap Fight promotions will likely be scrutinized by both medical professionals and legal experts who are already concerned about the long-term health risks that accompany head trauma in combat sports.

The key takeaway for Slap Fighting promotions? They must take proactive measures to address the growing concerns over CTE and fighter safety. This could include rule changes, protective gear, or even better medical monitoring for fighters both during and after competition. Ignoring these concerns could expose Slap Fight promotions to the same kind of legal trouble the UFC is currently dealing with.

A Wake-Up Call for Combat Sports

As we witness the UFC navigate the fallout from its own lawsuits, the future of Slap Fighting is uncertain. What seems like a harmless spectacle today could evolve into a major legal and ethical problem in the near future. Combat sports as a whole are under a microscope, and the evidence linking CTE to repeated head injuries is only becoming stronger. As such, promotions that facilitate high-risk head trauma with no defense—like Slap Fighting—must take notice and begin preparing for the potential legal challenges that are sure to come.

The UFC is learning the hard way that fighter safety is no longer an issue that can be ignored. Slap Fight leagues must take heed and work toward making their sport safer for participants, or risk facing their own reckoning in the courtrooms of the future.