How much do Power Slap fighters get paid?

Power Slap is one of the mostcontroversial niche sports today. Fighters face the brutal reality of taking unblocked slaps to the head, a practice that has drawn sharp criticism from doctors, neuroscientists, and athletes alike.

So, if someone risks being knocked out for a living, what do they earn? How much are Power Slap fighters actually paid, and is it worth the danger of long-term health complications?

Power Slap does not disclose fighters' salaries publicly

There is no official data set showing exactly how much Power Slap fighters are paid. Payouts vary widely, ranging from a few thousand dollars for newer competitors to six-figure sums for top fighters and the most-watched events.

The payment structure is a mix of financial incentives, including a show-up fee, win bonuses, performance bonuses, and additional income from sponsorships and brand endorsements.

Similar to the UFC, Power Slap uses a tiered and event-based pay system, where fighters’ earnings depend on their popularity, card placement, and performance in each match.

Power Slap base salaries first

Before a fighter can even get to the juicier payout packages and associated bonuses, they have to make do with a base salary. Most sources reviewed by Casino Guru News suggest that Power Slap fighters make a mere $2,000 to show up.

A fighter can earn a similar payout of $2,000 for winning the fight, but it is not guaranteed, with the payout for base fighters reportedly reaching $10,000, based on other financial incentives such as performance bonuses.

However, a Reddit post from 2025 suggests that the majority of fighters earn around $2,000, with the most prominent one cross into several thousands of dollars easily.

The Power Slap contests reportedly award a "Performance of the Night" payout, which could be as high as $10,000 on its own, substantially boosting the payout for a base fighter.

In a sense, the Dana White-hosted promotion is following in the same footsteps of the UFC, which he transformed from a few-million-dollar investment into a multi-billion-dollar sports powerhouse and is planning a fight at the White House in 2026.

Payouts increase with fighter level and title defenses

While the base salaries can indeed feel a little underwhelming, some events have reportedly commanded much larger prize purses.

Things seem to have picked up after Power Slap 12. Isaiah Quinones is said to have been paid $50,000 for his participation in Power Slap 13, while Power Slap 14 had a prize purse of $75,000 for title defenders and about $45,000 for challengers.

These prize purses are not entirely speculative, as they have been widely reported. These individual pay packages are vastly different from what entry-level fighters get paid.

White himself has offered some clarity on how much Power Slap fighters earn. According to White, a contender was getting paid about $45,000 during the Power Slap League Season 1 Finale, as confirmed in a press conference.

These figures have been contrasted with personal statements from fighters who also hold 9-5 jobs.

Russel Rivero commented that he had a 9-5 job and could fit his training sessions in between work and home, suggesting that the pay packages may be overstated or not entirely accurate.

White has been particularly critical of people who balked at the idea that Power Slap fighters are paid too little for the risk they take. At the end of Season 1, he said:

"He’s gonna walk out of here with $45,000, you know what I mean? We’re gonna have stories written tomorrow, ‘Oh, this is disgusting, these people did it for $45,000.’ This is how this [censored] works. Some of these guys probably don’t make $45,000 a year."

Highest-paid fighters

For better or worse, Power Slap has, like the UFC, maintained some ambiguity as to who earns how much. White’s statements at least confirm that some fighters can earn serious compensation, with $45,000 cited as a fairly solid payout.

As to who the highest-paid fighters are, the numbers are again difficult to verify. In 2023, Ayjay Hintz and Ron Bata are said to have earned north of $100,000, although independent confirmation is difficult.

A 2025 Reddit post indicates that the highest-salaried fighters may be Paige Vanzant and Isaiah Quinones, earning $50,000 per fight, based on information for Power Slap 12.

No direct source was provided, but commentators corroborated that these numbers reflect per-fight payouts.

Salary per event (based on Power Slap 12)

These numbers are estimates based on third-party reports. They should be taken as general guidance rather than exact figures.

Other compensation

Besides per-event payouts, fighters can earn through sponsorships or Performance of the Night bonuses, which can reach $10,000. Win bonuses may also increase total pay.

Faced with criticism about low pay, it remains clear that Power Slap fighters’ exact salaries are hard to pinpoint, and figures vary widely depending on event, fighter level, and bonuses.

Conclusion

While Power Slap fighters can earn payouts ranging from a few thousand dollars to six-figure sums for the top competitors, exact salaries remain hard to verify. Earnings depend on a mix of base pay, win bonuses, performance awards, sponsorships, and social media popularity. The majority of fighters would appear to have been paid just $1,500 for showing up, with only a handful making decent money.

Image credit: PowerSlap.com