UFC boss Dana White has opened a legal clash with the promoters of “Power Spank,” a parody inspired by the Power Slap events staged by the MMA chief. Power Slap sent a cease-and-desist letter challenging the Lingerie Fighting Championship’s use of the concept, as reported by The New York Post.

White, 57, is an owner of the controversial Power Slap competition, which debuted in 2023. Its format places two competitors opposite each other as they alternate between delivering and absorbing open-handed slaps to the face for up to three rounds.

The Lingerie Fighting Championship, also known as LFC, appeared to mock that format last month by unveiling “Power Spank” at the beginning of its events. Instead of blows to the face, the parody features women in lingerie slapping their opponents’ backsides.

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The legal dispute became public Wednesday, when LFC announced on social media that it had received a letter from Power Slap in October. The organization also made clear that it did not intend to abandon the parody.

“We received a cease & desist over Power Spank, LFC’s parody that opens every U.S. event,” LFC posted. The statement identified Power Spank as a regular feature at the start of the organization’s American events.

In a second declaration, LFC asserted its ownership of the parody and framed the dispute as a free speech issue. “Power Spank is owned by Lingerie Fighting Championships, and parody is protected speech under the First Amendment. We’re not backing down.”

LFC CEO Shaun Donnelly expanded on that position in comments reported by USA Today. He said the organization respected Power Slap and the competition’s founders, but insisted that LFC would resist the legal pressure.

We received a cease & desist over Power Spank, LFC’s parody that opens every U.S. event. Power Spank is owned by Lingerie Fighting Championships, and parody is protected speech under the First Amendment. We’re not backing down.

Full statement: https://t.co/dgKzRTyrgz #PowerSpank #LFC #FreeSpeech #firstamendment — LFCFights (@lfc_fights) November 10, 2026

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“We respect Power Slap and its founders, but we will not be bullied into abandoning protected speech,” Donnelly said. His response presented LFC’s refusal as part of a broader argument about the right to parody.

Donnelly also suggested that the organization was prepared for a prolonged legal fight if the disagreement continued.

“We will defend our right, and the right of every American, to free speech, and if that takes us to the Supreme Court, we are prepared to go.”

Beyond the legal arguments, Donnelly addressed what he described as the dangers associated with Power Slap. The competition often results in participants being knocked unconscious after taking open-handed strikes to the face.

’ … !

! The impact is unbelievable, the slaps are vicious, and the damage is hard to watch! ? #PowerSlap #SlapFighting #CombatSports — KnockoutVaultSports (@KnockoutVault) November 9, 2026

Donnelly connected that concern directly to an experience involving one of LFC’s own competitors. “We watched one of our fighters get seriously hurt (at Power Slap),” he said.

He then cast Power Spank as a deliberately safer response to the spectacle and presentation of Power Slap. “Power Spank is our answer: same energy, same theatrics, none of the brain damage. And let’s be honest, a spank is a lot more fun to watch than a slap.”

Donnelly argued that outrageous combat entertainment did not need to carry the same risks. He said Power Spank could attract an audience while avoiding the injuries that have become part of his criticism of Power Slap.

“This isn’t a gimmick to us – it’s a statement. Combat sports can be bold and outrageous without being reckless. Power Spank proves you can still pack a house without packing an ambulance,” Donnelly said.

The dispute emerged during a week in which White was also pulled into an unexpected political moment. US President Donald Trump claimed that he wanted the UFC boss to become his next press secretary.

White visited the White House on Monday, where Trump brought him into a press conference in the James Brady Briefing Room. White declined the offer and said, “I don’t want to be in politics.”

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