Las Vegas, NV — Few athletes in Power Slap bring the same mix of personality, grit, and outspoken confidence as South Africa’s own Danie “Pitbull” Van Heerden. Now based in Las Vegas, Van Heerden has been soaking up the atmosphere, rubbing shoulders with celebrities, and keeping his social media presence buzzing as he prepares for a big 2025 return.
Life in Las Vegas
“Vegas is the place to be. Definitely the place to be,” Van Heerden told Slap News. “Since I’ve been here, my Instagram reach went up 10 times compared to back home in South Africa. The nice thing here is you actually meet real celebrities face-to-face, and they don’t mind to collab with you. That engagement is a bonus — and after all, it’s entertainment.”
Thoughts on McKinney vs. Dumpling
Van Heerden has history with McKinney Manu, so naturally he had thoughts on McKinney’s knockout of Dwayne Crespo at Power Slap 14 and his upcoming fight with *Kalani “Dumpling” Vakameilalo.
“Super heavyweights are different,” he said. “I think McKinney was just lucky in that one. He needs to go back down to heavyweight. Against Dumpling, I don’t think there will be a knockout. My opinion is one of them will be disqualified because the refs are getting strict on fouls.”
Open to Kalani Rematch — or Juicy Debut
Currently ranked #5 at super heavyweight, Van Heerden has already faced most of the top names in the division, holding wins over Jonathan Boone, Cody Valo, and Evian Scott, while dropping close contests to Kalani, McKinney, and “Da Crazy Hawaiian.”
“I’d gladly rematch Kalani,” Van Heerden admitted. “I’ve basically fought all the guys in the top division. If someone wants a match with the South African champ, let me know. Even Juicy — I’d fight him too.”
He also reminded fans that while some matches ended in losses, they were battles: “Out of those three losses, every single one of them walked away swollen, bleeding, or broken. They had their toughest match with me.”
Message for Slapdog
But the real fire came when talk turned to Lorenzo “Slapdog” Florian, who has lingered at the bottom of the rankings. Van Heerden didn’t hold back:
“Slapdog, let me tell you this. I’ve got a set of skills, and those skills will get you knocked out in one. You’ve been talking since October, but you’ve never shown up face-to-face. If you need data, I’ll send you data — because you’re just a keyboard warrior.”
What’s Next for Pitbull?
Though Van Heerden kept details confidential, he confirmed fans can expect to see him back inside the cage before the end of 2025.
“Stay tuned. You better follow me on Instagram, Danie Pitbull. That’s D-A-N, not D-O-N. Big news is coming.”
With his blend of charisma, intensity, and South African pride, Danie “Pitbull” Van Heerden remains one of the most entertaining figures in Power Slap. Whether it’s a rematch with Kalani, a clash with Juicy, or finally settling things with Slapdog, one thing is certain — the Pitbull isn’t done biting.