Paige VanZant gets husband to smack her in face for Power Slap training (2024)

Paige VanZant's husband helps her train (Image: Instagram)

Former UFC flyweight contender Paige VanZant is taking an unconventional approach to preparing for her upcoming Power Slap fight: She is letting her husband, notable fighter Austin Vanderford, "slap" her during training.

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In a playful training video posted on social media, VanZant wore a green and neon blue bathing suit. Standing against a tropical backdrop, the video showed Vanderford, her husband since 2018, simulating the wind-up, follow-through, and slap. But Vanderford opted for a neon green pool noodle instead of using his bare hand. The video was captioned simply: "Powerslap prep" - accompanied by a hand and face emoji.

The video hinted at VanZant's focus on training herself not to flinch as open palms fly her way. VanZant recently entered the slap league, making a victorious debut by defeating Christine Volmarans by unanimous decision at Power Slap 8. Highlight moments of the match included VanZant performing a thunderous slap in the second round, which forced her opponent to fall and take a knee. Yet, throughout the success, Power Slap fans noted Van Zan'ts constant flinching during her debut.

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VanZant won her Power Slap debut (Image: Getty)

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VanZant's involvement in the brand-new sport has been controversial. Critics have voiced concerns about the potential brain health risks associated with the sport, in which competitors exchange powered-up open-palm strikes to the face at point-blank range until their opponent can't continue or a judge declares a winner.

Joe Rogan has been particularly vocal in his opposition to Power Slap. Despite his tight friendship with UFC CEO Dana White, the man behind the competition, Rogan has repeatedly emphasized the unmistakable hazards of extreme brain injury for competitors.

Paige VanZant competes in BKFC (Image: Getty)

“It's free brain damage like, you could hit someone so hard with a slap because everybody thinks of a slap as like the palm in the face. That is not what's happening," said Rogan on his podcast. "You're getting palm struck in the face, full blast, from a full swing.”

Despite the backlash, VanZant has doubled down on her decision to join Power Slap. In a recent social media story, the ex-UFC flyweight shared her decision to point the slap league, crediting a newfound philosophy of doing what she pleases instead of trying to please the general public.

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