Andrew Provost may have entered Power Slap 20 as an underdog, but after one of the wildest fights in company history, he walked away looking like a legitimate future title challenger.
In a brutal back-and-forth war against Anthony “Babyface” Blackburn, Provost survived four rounds — including a sudden death finish — to secure the biggest win of his Power Slap career.
And according to Provost, the message after the fight was crystal clear:
“No, they can’t ignore me now.”
“The Best Craziest Match in Power Slap History”
Provost revealed after the fight that several key figures backstage — including Dana White, Frank Lamicella, and Hunter Campbell — immediately praised the matchup.
“They said it was like the best craziest match in Power Slap history.”
The fight itself had everything:
momentum swings, knockdowns, adjustments, fatigue, and finally a sudden death knockout after regulation rounds failed to separate the two competitors.
Provost admitted he originally believed he had already done enough to secure the victory before referee Jason Herzog informed both men they were heading to an extra round.
“I thought I had done enough… then Herzog came in and said, ‘Nope, you guys are doing one more.’”
Once sudden death became official, the mentality shifted completely.
“It was all or nothing.”
Provost Reveals He Entered the Fight Injured
One of the biggest revelations from the interview came when Provost disclosed he had been dealing with a serious injury for months leading into the matchup.
According to Provost, he was unable to properly train, lift weights, or even participate in jiu-jitsu during most of camp.
“I haven’t been able to weight lift, do jiu-jitsu or anything in like three months.”
Despite the injury, he still accepted the fight on just three weeks’ notice and continued making adjustments throughout the match.
Provost explained he had actually been working on a completely new striking technique but struggled early with precision.
“I kept landing slightly high.”
By sudden death, however, everything finally connected.
“I just got to get my precision a little better and then you’ll start seeing some more head-er-quitters.”
The New Defensive Adjustment
One of the more interesting technical developments during the fight came on the defensive side.
Provost appeared to use a subtle “step out” movement during Blackburn’s strikes — something not commonly seen in Power Slap’s current era.
According to Provost, it was something he had only begun experimenting with during fight week itself.
“It was something that I’d worked on only that week.”
Whether it becomes a permanent part of his game remains to be seen.
“We’ll go back and watch the match again and we’ll go from there.”
Why Strikes Are Starting to Land High
Provost also gave his thoughts on a growing trend within Power Slap:
more fighters landing dangerously high shots around the orbital area.
His belief is simple:
fighters are chasing too much power and sacrificing precision.
“I think people are just putting too much power on it.”
Provost believes dialing back slightly and focusing more on technique would actually produce more knockouts while reducing dangerous placements.
“Be more technical.”
Provost Believes He’s Next for the Belt
After defeating Blackburn — widely viewed as the number one contender — Provost made it clear he believes there’s only one fight left for him.
“This was a title eliminator match.”
And when asked whether that title opportunity had officially been promised to him?
Provost didn’t hesitate.
“That’s what’s gonna happen.”
He expects to face the winner of the upcoming championship matchup between Cole Young and Brandon Rhodes later this year.
“September, October for sure.”
The Provost Family Could Soon Grow in Power Slap
Provost also revealed another interesting development:
his wife may soon be entering Power Slap herself.
According to him, she has been consistently training ever since attending the combine in December and could potentially compete at either 115 or 125 pounds.
“If you want to see some knockouts at women’s 115 or 125, I think the chances are great.”
Provost added that Sin Bodhi had originally pitched the idea of both of them competing on the same card at Power Slap 20, though the timing ultimately did not work out.
Still, he believes her debut is coming soon.
Andrew Provost Has Arrived
After a performance like this, Andrew Provost may have officially evolved from overlooked veteran into legitimate title threat.
He survived one of the craziest fights in Power Slap history, delivered in sudden death under pressure, and walked away with all the momentum in the division.
And now, after years of grinding through dark cards and early prelims, Provost finally believes the spotlight has no choice but to find him.