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FACT BRIEF

Is slap fighting legal in Nevada?

By Todd Butterworth
View this fact brief on The Nevada Independent
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YES

In October 2022, slap fighting was brought under the regulatory oversight of the Nevada Athletic Commission. Slap fighting has two contestants stand at arm's length and take turns slapping each other in the face.

The contests have long occurred in unregulated environments domestically and abroad. The NAC decided they qualify as unarmed combat under Nevada law and fall under its jurisdiction. All Nevada slap fighting contests or exhibitions require NAC approval and must comply with regulatory requirements.

In November, the NAC approved a license for the Power Slap League and recently amended rules requiring contestants to deliver only open-handed blows and not to hit opponents below the chin.

In October 2021, a slap fighting contestant suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and later died after being knocked out four times during an event.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Nevada Athletic Commission Slap Fighting
Sports Illustrated Professional Slap Fighting Approved for Regulation by Nevada State Athletic Commission
KTNV NAC amends slap fighting rules
Black Belt Magazine Sanctioned Power Slap League – the Next Big Thing
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The Nevada Independent
The Nevada Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist and commentator Jon Ralston. The site and its supporting channels are focused on ethical, unbiased and transparent journalism. In general, we aim to gather and disseminate important public information and increase civic engagement. We are supported by corporate donations, memberships, event ticket sales and sponsorships and foundation grants. We disclose all our members and donors. Donors have no influence over our content, ever. The Nevada Independent is the dba for Nevada News Bureau, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2010 by Elizabeth Thompson, who now serves as one of The Nevada Independent's managing directors and its Editor.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.