ABU DHBAI: Power Slap’s first international event, “Power Slap 9: Da Crazy Hawaiian vs. Dumpling,” made history as part of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, which culminates with UFC 308 on Saturday.
The much-anticipated event at Space 42 Arena concluded with Da Crazy Hawaiian retaining his super heavyweight belt following a draw with Vasilii “Dumpling” Kamotskii, while Isaih “Pretty Boy” Quinones secured the middleweight title with a third-round knockout over John “The Machine” Davis.
The Power Slap 9 main event between Da Crazy Hawaiian and Dumpling saw both fighters demonstrate their resilience, resulting in a split scorecard. While the draw left fans calling for one more round, Da Crazy Hawaiian expressed gratitude for the opportunity and vowed to come back stronger in the future.
In the co-main event, Quinones’ third-round knockout of Davis solidified his position as the new middleweight champion.
Dana White, CEO of UFC, reflected on the historic event and the electric atmosphere in Abu Dhabi. “This is the first time we’ve been out of Vegas, and the energy has been amazing,” he said. “I’m excited for what’s next. Abu Dhabi has been a perfect host, as always. The fact the fans were chanting ‘one more round’ shows how invested they are.”
Commenting on his performance and the Abu Dhabi experience, Da Crazy Hawaiian said: “I’m happy with the outcome, and now we’ve got to go for a rematch because it’s well-deserved. Abu Dhabi is amazing — there’s no place like it. The respect and cleanliness here are unmatched; you have to be here to understand why.”
Quinones shared his happiness over his title win. “I came here knowing I’m a force to be reckoned with among the middleweights,” he said. “Winning the championship in Abu Dhabi feels surreal — the hospitality here is amazing. I plan to hold on to this title until I eventually retire with it.”
Power Slap 9 marks a significant milestone in the sport’s journey, with Abu Dhabi proving a pivotal and welcoming location for international growth. It is also an example of how the emirate is positioning itself as the combat sports capital of the world.
