Kitchener fighter Ellie Dempster wins first-ever Power Slap women's flyweight championship
The 29-year-old from Kitchener became Power Slap's first women's flyweight champion and remains undefeated in the sport, which is co-founded by UFC executives.
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Ellie "Belly" Dempster of Kitchener has become the first-ever women's flyweight Power Slap champion, claiming the title in Las Vegas during what has been a breakout year for the regulated sport.
Power Slap, co-founded by UFC executives Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta, is a competition where athletes use open hands to strike their opponent's cheek while the competitor being struck keeps their hands behind their back and must not flinch. Dempster, 29, was named Power Slap's Rookie of the Year in 2025 and remains undefeated in the sport.
Before Power Slap, Dempster was a professional Muay Thai fighter in Thailand and grew up playing rugby. "I'm so grateful about it. And I'm still a little bit in shock," she said this week after winning the championship.
While the sport may appear brutal to outsiders, Dempster explained that competitors train extensively to withstand the force of their opponents. "You can work your body. You can work your defence. That's the part that people aren't seeing yet. As the sport grows, more people are taking it seriously because they're seeing that there is a technique to it."
According to Power Slap's official website, Dempster's undefeated record and growing profile position her as a key figure in shaping the sport's future. "This sport is still growing, and I want to be one of the people helping shape its future," her bio states.
The facts
Who won Power Slap's first women's flyweight championship?
Ellie 'Belly' Dempster of Kitchener won Power Slap's first-ever women's flyweight championship, claiming the title in Las Vegas.
What is Power Slap and who founded it?
Power Slap is a competition where athletes use open hands to strike their opponent's cheek while the opponent keeps their hands behind their back and must not flinch. The sport was co-founded by UFC executives Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta.
What was Dempster's record in Power Slap before winning the championship?
Ellie Dempster remains undefeated in Power Slap. She was also named Power Slap's Rookie of the Year in 2025.
What combat sports did Dempster compete in before Power Slap?
Before Power Slap, Ellie Dempster was a professional Muay Thai fighter in Thailand and grew up playing rugby.
