In a jaw-dropping moment that has taken the internet by storm, Power Slap middleweight champion John Davis showcased incredible resilience during his recent title defense against Wesley Drain at Power Slap 2. The event, which took place in May, left spectators and fellow athletes in awe as Davis overcame a severe injury to retain his crown.
The bout began with Davis landing a clean strike on Drain, but the celebration was short-lived. Immediately after the impact, Davis grimaced and clutched his right shoulder, which had dislocated from the force of his own slap. Given that Davis is right-handed, the injury posed a significant threat to his ability to continue the match.
UFC legend and Power Slap commentator Michael Bisping expressed disbelief, exclaiming, “He hurt his arm, no way.” Meanwhile, in the locker room, fellow competitor Dayne ‘Da Hawaiian Hitman’ Viernes echoed the sentiment, declaring Davis “done.”
UFC welterweight Joaquin Buckley, fresh off a spectacular victory at UFC 307, admitted he was stunned by Davis’s determination. “That boy (Davis) got heart because I would have just walked off,” Buckley remarked.
Despite attempts to pop his shoulder back into place, Davis found himself unable to use his dominant hand. In a remarkable display of adaptability and grit, he made the unprecedented decision to continue the competition using his left hand for the second, third, and fourth rounds.
As if by miracle, Davis’s shoulder recovered enough by the fifth and final round for him to return to his preferred right-hand technique. This proved to be the turning point, as he managed to secure a unanimous decision victory over Drain, with all three judges scoring the contest 47-46.
The win didn’t come easily for Davis, as Drain put up a formidable challenge. However, Drain’s performance was marred by several penalties, which ultimately proved costly in the final scoring.
Looking ahead, Davis is set to defend his middleweight title against Isaih Quinones at Power Slap 9 on October 24 in Abu Dhabi. The event is part of the highly anticipated Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, which will also feature UFC 308, headlined by Ilia Topuria’s first featherweight title defense against Max Holloway.
