RIYADH: American striker Cole “Full Send” Young delivered a career-defining performance on Friday night at Mohammed Abdu Arena, capturing the world middleweight championship at Power Slap 17 — part of the Riyadh Season.
The event, organized under the leadership of UFC President Dana White and Riyadh Season, drew an electric crowd as fans witnessed a night packed with explosive knockouts, global talent and intense competition across multiple divisions.
In the main event, Young dethroned defending champion Anthony “Babyface” Blackburn by decision after five hard-fought rounds. The American challenger displayed calculated composure early before taking command with sharp precision and endurance to secure the title.
Young said after his victory: “Just keep focusing. That’s all I can do. Try not to react when it hits you — he hit me pretty hard, obviously. But focus on what you do.” Holding his newly earned belt, he added: “I’ll slap anybody, it don’t matter to me. I got the belt now. Who’s next?”
The night’s action also featured standout performances across the card. Nigeria’s Kabiru “The Nigerian Hulk” Adediran earned a dominant first-round TKO victory over Kazakhstan’s Daniyar “Patap” Shakharov in a heavyweight showdown, while American Brian “The Predator” Ellis defeated Mexico’s Ro Montana by unanimous decision after three competitive rounds.
In the light heavyweight division, Kazakhstan’s Mukhammed “Asadullah” Amantayev secured a dramatic third-round knockout against China’s Honggang Zhao in an all-Asian matchup showcasing blistering power and precision. Britain’s Louis “Razor” Robinson also impressed, stopping American James “The Iron Chin” Siekman with a clinical third-round TKO in another heavyweight bout.
Earlier on the main card, American Andrew Provost edged Mexico’s Azael “El Perro” Rodriguez by majority decision after a close middleweight contest.
In the women’s featherweight division, Hungary’s Sheena “The Hungarian Hurricane” Bathory earned a points victory over Ukraine’s Robyn “The Belter” Wereshchuk in a tightly contested bout that underscored the growing prominence of female athletes in slap fighting.
“Honestly, I come back here with a very positive emotion,” Bathory said after her win. “Since in January I won the event in Riyadh. And I know that the audience is going to give me really so much inspiration and power to prove myself again. And, honestly, I love to compete here — I just feel that this place is blessing for me.”
The card also featured American Dorian “Disturbing the Peace” Perez securing a decision win over Kazakhstan’s Zakir “Steppe Thunder” Naimanbayev after a powerful three-round exchange.
Power Slap CEO Frank Lamicella praised the global diversity of competitors and the event’s impact on the sport’s international reach.
“There’s an amazing lineup of events here in Riyadh season. We love being a part of it,” he said. “Like I said earlier, you know what’s great about here? We can bring in fighters from around the world. And I think you saw the time we had. I think we have 15 different countries represented, from Slovakia to Nigeria to India to China. And that really helps us grow the sport around the world. And, you know, grow fans in these countries.”
Following the success of its previous event in Riyadh, Power Slap 17 reinforced ֱ’s growing reputation as a global destination for major combat sports and entertainment events — blending international talent, passionate crowds and world-class production under the Riyadh Season banner.
