Dana White revealed that Jake Hager is being referred to a specialist in Miami following emergency eye surgery last week. White shared this update on Tuesday during the post-fight press conference for Dana White’s Contender Series.
“He underwent emergency surgery that night, and now we’re sending him to an expert down in Miami,” White stated. Hager suffered the injury at Power Slap 23 on September 17 in Lubbock, Texas, where he lost by TKO to Johnny Magna in the second round. The slap caused significant bleeding from Hager’s left eye, prompting White to instruct that the footage not be replayed during the broadcast. White described the injury as one of the worst he’s witnessed in either Power Slap or UFC and emphasized that the organization will spare no expense to ensure Hager receives the best medical care. After the fight, Hager’s corner called for a foul, but officials dismissed this, and the referee’s stoppage decision remained in place.
When asked about injury prevention, White acknowledged the inherent dangers of combat sports while underscoring the importance of thorough medical testing and prompt post-fight treatment. “There are many unfortunate incidents that happen in combat sports,” he noted.
Hager’s partner and fellow Power Slap participant Patricia Blackburn confirmed the emergency surgery in a statement to Slap News over the weekend, expressing gratitude to fans while requesting privacy. “Jake is currently recovering from emergency eye surgery,” Blackburn said. “We’re taking it day by day and keeping details private, but your kindness, support, and genuine concern have meant a great deal to us.”
Neither Blackburn nor Power Slap has disclosed the exact nature of the injury, and there has been no update on Hager’s long-term recovery outlook.
Earlier this year, Hager signed a contract for six appearances with Power Slap. He won his debut at Power Slap 19 in April by defeating Devin Jenkins via stoppage in the third round, then suffered a loss to Amanpreet Singh in July before last week’s bout against Magna, who competes in independent wrestling and for NWA New Mexico. This leaves Hager with a 1-2 record in the promotion, suffering knockout defeats in his last two matches.
Before stepping into the Power Slap ring, Hager acknowledged the risks involved. “You’re signing up to get slapped and trying to slap someone back as hard as you can,” Hager told TMZ’s Inside the Ring in March. “So I expect injuries to happen.”
Power Slap, which launched in 2023 and is co-owned by White and Zuffa founder Lorenzo Fertitta, features competitors alternating open-hand strikes without the ability to defend themselves—a format that has drawn ongoing criticism from neurologists and brain injury specialists since its inception.
Hager, who wrestled in WWE as Jack Swagger from 2006 to 2017, held multiple titles including the ECW Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship. He also won the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 26. Later, he performed as a patriotic heel and spent his final WWE years in the tag team division.
He joined AEW in 2019 as part of Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle faction before departing the company. Hager also had a brief unbeaten run in mixed martial arts with Bellator starting in 2019 and was an NCAA Division I All-American wrestler at Oklahoma, who also played college football.
Though he had considered retiring from wrestling, Hager returned to the ring and has continued to take independent bookings alongside his Power Slap commitments.
Fan Take: This update is crucial for fight fans as it highlights the very real dangers involved in emerging combat sports formats like Power Slap, pushing the conversation around fighter safety to the forefront. Hager’s injury could serve as a wake-up call for the industry to implement stricter medical protocols and reconsider the risks these new disciplines pose.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
