What You Need To Know About SlapFIGHT Championship

There's a massive SlapFIGHT Championship event going down on Saturday, December 3, but how exactly does this viral sensation work? What are the rules? We'll get into all of that in this column, as there are several states that are now offering users the ability to bet on this crazy, fast-growing sport.

What Is SlapFIGHT Championship?

The Slap

If you're active on social media — if you aren't, you're probably living under a rock — then you've probably seen videos of some of these competitors slapping the stuffing out of each other. For those of you that are new, here's a little glimpse of what to expect: 

Working Man ‘Leadbelt’ faces Footballer ‘Johnny Juice’ at SlapFIGHT!#slapfight #slapfighting #slap #slapfightingchampionship #slapfightchampionship #powerslap #slapcontest #slapcompetition #slapping pic.twitter.com/eC5WKo3x0Q

— SlapFIGHT Championship 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇳🇬🇮🇳 (@SlapFIGHTUSA) November 29, 2022

We do, however, need to let you know that this isn't just some free-for-all. While these competitors might simply be standing there and slapping each other in the faces, there are some rules that apply. And that starts with a coin toss to determine who slaps first. 

After a windup in which the fighters slap on the count of three, there is no clubbing under any circumstance. That means that all strikes must be landed with an open hand. There also is no stepping. Each fighter has to plant their feet shoulder-width apart. Finally, there is no flinching. That means that the person receiving the blow can't do anything that weakens the slap. Small reactions like blinking or closing your eyes are fine, but any strong reaction is not allowed. 

If you're wondering what happens if a rule is broken, it's really quite simple. First, the fighter will receive a warning. But anybody that breaks any of those three previous rules after the warning will receive a penalty. That means that the other fighter gets to go back and get another slap. 

How To Win

Competitors can win in a few different ways. The most exciting way you'll see somebody win is by a knockout (KO). If one of the competitors absorbs a blow that is so painful that it takes a certain amount of time to recover — or requires judges or a doctor to call it — the fight is over. There are also TKO's that occur when a slap results in the person being hit needing to be supported by their team members. Three of those TKO's result in a KO. 

The fights can also end with the judges making a decision. Unlike boxing or MMA, there is no scoring for each individual round or slap. Instead, the judges will focus on the full body of work, which is where the penalties can come in. Any extra slap is a massive advantage for the person that gets to dish out the pain. 

Finally, the fights can also end with a disqualification. Of course, this isn't something we want to see, but it can happen. 

Can I Bet on SlapFIGHT Championship?

Yes! Like any other sport, the easiest way to bet on SlapFIGHT Championship is to take either a fighter or a total. And within the SlapFIGHT Championship, there are different weight classes: Featherweight, Lightweight, Middleweight, Heavyweight and Super Heavyweight. 

There are 10 rounds in this competition, so if you're taking the Over on a fight with a total of 9.5, that means you're betting on that fight to go the distance. If you take the Under, that means you're expecting a knockout, TKO or judge/doctor's decision somewhere along the way. You should also know going in that there are one-minute breaks in between each round. 

Backing a fighter is even easier, as you simply just pick the fighter you think will win. But make sure you study the tape because it's not as easy as it looks. We'll give you a little more film to unpack below before diving in. 

THIS….is SlapFIGHT

‘SlapFIGHT 21’ premiering Dec 3rd on FITE. Link in Bio☝️#slapfight #slapfighting #slap #slapfightingchampionship #slapfightchampionship #powerslap #slapcontest #slapcompetition #slapping pic.twitter.com/nq5nldFo1I

— SlapFIGHT Championship 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇳🇬🇮🇳 (@SlapFIGHTUSA) November 25, 2022