Dana White is known for his self-confidence.
The UFC CEO recently announced that Power Slap, his emerging slap fighting organization, will be moving from Rumble to YouTube. Starting this Friday, events will be broadcast exclusively on YouTube, with Paige VanZant’s return coinciding with the launch. The move is backed by a sponsorship from VeChain, a cryptocurrency company reportedly investing $76 million over six years as Power Slap’s title sponsor.
According to Forbes, the VeChain deal is financially less lucrative than the previous agreement with Rumble, which was valued at $30 million per year. The new arrangement is structured as a traditional sponsorship, primarily for branding purposes, and lacks an additional broadcast deal to compensate for the revenue difference from Rumble.
However, White appears unconcerned about the change in revenue streams. He revealed ongoing negotiations with two additional sponsors that could potentially raise the total sponsorship revenue to $35 million annually, surpassing the initial VeChain deal.
This figure does not include potential revenue from YouTube based on viewership, leveraging a platform with over a billion active monthly users.
White also mentioned interest from three linear cable channels in partnering with Power Slap. He declined these offers as they would have required him to relinquish control over the company’s digital and linear rights, as well as sponsorships.
Maintaining control is a priority for White, allowing him to pursue further sponsorships alongside VeChain and retain complete authority over Power Slap’s direction.
“I like to bet on myself,” White stated to Forbes. “With Power Slap, we own and control everything. We are creating our own future.”
White is optimistic that Power Slap will continue to generate viral moments, similar to a recent event that attracted 4.3 million viewers on Rumble.
In addition to the YouTube transition, White is expanding Power Slap internationally.
Power Slap recently debuted in Saudi Arabia, which is committed to hosting three more events in 2025 and two in 2026, each with a site fee of $15 million. White is pursuing similar agreements in Abu Dhabi and Qatar, with future expansion plans for Brazil and South Africa.
Further expansion within the United States is also anticipated. UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell, also a Power Slap investor, indicated that more states are expected to sanction slap fighting, with Missouri and New Jersey likely to be next.
White has stated his ambition to elevate Power Slap to the level of the UFC. These are ambitious goals, especially considering the UFC’s own broadcast rights negotiations aiming for over $1 billion per year.
To achieve this growth, White aims to maintain maximum control over Power Slap, a strategy supported by the move to YouTube.
“I don’t like answering to anyone,” White explained. “We are building the business as we see fit and doing exactly what we want.”
