Chris Barnett becomes first male former UFC fighter to sign with PowerSlap

Chris Barnett is moving from MMA to PowerSlap after signing with the slap-fighting league, according to Yahoo Sports. The report frames the agreement as historic for PowerSlap, calling Barnett the first male fighter with UFC experience to make the crossover into the promotion.

Barnett, a heavyweight whose UFC tenure placed him among the sport’s top-level fighters, will now be competing in PowerSlap’s unique format, where bouts center on striking in a tightly defined ring environment rather than the grappling, striking variety, and scoring systems used in MMA. The change is more than a simple brand switch, it is a shift in how fighters train, prepare, and measure success in competition.

The signing also highlights how PowerSlap has been trying to expand its talent pool beyond its existing base of slap specialists. Bringing in a known combat-sports name can raise general visibility, while also testing whether a former UFC heavyweight’s skill set transfers to a sport built around single strikes and timing. PowerSlap’s premise is different, but Barnett’s physicality and experience facing high-level opponents are part of the appeal for audiences outside the league.

For Barnett’s fans, the move is likely to be watched closely because it represents a rare direction for UFC alumni, with many fighters typically staying inside MMA rather than shifting to a radically different combat discipline. For PowerSlap, it is a statement signing, particularly since the report presents it as the first male UFC-to-PowerSlap crossover.

It is not yet clear, from the available report, when Barnett will make his PowerSlap debut or what card he will be tied to. As with any transition between combat sports with different rules and training cycles, the early period tends to be about adaptation as much as performance, including refining how a striker sets up, commits, and follows through under PowerSlap’s framework.

Moving forward, the key questions for both sides will be whether Barnett can adjust quickly to PowerSlap’s demands and how the promotion markets the UFC connection. If the crossover proves compelling, it could encourage more high-profile fighters to consider non-traditional routes after UFC, while also shaping PowerSlap’s ability to compete for mainstream attention.