Sorin Comsa endured 10 rounds of open-handed violence to win the RXF heavyweight title during an international slap fighting event earlier this year inside the Las Vegas casino in Bucharest, Romania. The performance was so impressive, assuming you’re impressed by an athlete’s ability to not fall over dead, that UFC CEO Dana White had to sign the bearded bruiser to the stateside Power Slap promotion.
Hopefully Comsa can earn more than $2,000 per “fight.”
“What got even more attention than his win was the footage of how bad his face had swelled up during the fight,” White said during a promotional clip posted to Twitter. “So that clip goes viral, it was huge, and this guy, we believe, has the toughness and heart that we want in Power Slap, so we brought him here to give him a shot.”
It was his heart, insists White, not his internet fame that prompted the Power Slap signing.
“I believe adults can choose to do dangerous jobs if they understand the risks and reasonable efforts are made to protect them,” neuroscientist and concussion expert Chris Nowinsky wrote on social media. “But head hits with no defense is just sad. It reminds us that people who don’t take the risks often exploit those who do.”
Fans were aghast at the “pathetic” promotion’s latest acquisition.
“This is madness.”
“This is pathetic and people who watch are losers.”
“What a compete exploitation. This isn’t a sport and the damage they are taking will possibly be lifelong CTE issues.”
“This is just mindless brutality.”
“Power Slap is a disgrace. I don’t know how anyone can get behind this.”
“The fact that you’re promoting this is insane.”
“Need to ban this.”
White’s tweet has over 250 comments (and climbing) of Power Slap disdain.
“Not only is it unbelievable money-wise, it’s been unbelievable as far as social media goes,” White said earlier this year. “We’re number one in all of sports. And when I say all of sports, if you take the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, F1, WWE, and who am I forgetting, and added them all together, their numbers don’t compare to Slap.”
Ep. 3 of Power Slap “Road to the Title, Season 2” airs tonight on Rumble.