Ellie Dempster is about to take the Power Slap stage at Power Slap 13 on June 27, making her official debut in the sport — in a matchup that came together faster than anyone expected.
Just a few weeks ago, Dempster was helping with content creation at a B-Chain shoot, working behind the camera. A casual conversation about competing quickly turned into a fight offer. Now she’ll be facing Mikael Michelle Brown live in Las Vegas in front of a sold-out crowd.
“I’m super, super excited,” Dempster told Slap News.
“It’s a little bit of a surprise, short notice. But I get to go against Mikey, and I’m super grateful for it.”
From Thailand to Power Slap
Dempster brings a deep background in combat sports, including training in Muay Thai, fighting for Karate Combat, and an ongoing pursuit of MMA competition.
“I was living in Thailand doing Muay Thai, which brought me to America through Karate Combat,” she explained.
“Then this slap opportunity came up, and I said, ‘You know what, let’s give it a shot.’”
Currently coming off an ACL tear suffered in her last Karate Combat fight, Dempster sees Power Slap as a unique way to return to competition.
“I like that I’m not going to injure myself in the same way here,” she said with a smile.
“Of course you might get knocked out — sure — but I’m not going to tear an ACL.”
Training With Dewey Cooper
To prepare for her debut, Dempster is training with Coach Dewey Cooper at BKMMA in Las Vegas.
“It’s been amazing. We’re building everything from scratch,” Dempster said.
“Resistance bands, weights, explosion work, even pool training and drills to make you dizzy — to prepare for the mental side of getting hit.”
The Weight Cut
Accepting the fight on short notice also means a challenging weight cut. Dempster was walking around at 147–150 lbs and now needs to reach the 125 lb limit.
“It’s a bit of a struggle, but no concerns. I’ll get there,” she said.
“My day looks like black coffee in the morning, plain oats with blueberries and almond butter, then spinach and chicken. Food isn’t my best friend right now — but after the fight? Giant pizza.”
Studying Michael Michelle Brown
Dempster has done her homework on Michael Michelle Brown, who will enter her third Power Slap match.
“We’ve studied what we can,” Dempster said.
“I know she’s working on a new technique, so I’m not assuming it’ll be exactly like her last fights. I have a rough idea, but I’m staying flexible.”
“Offense Is My Strength”
Asked whether her offensive or defensive game will be her key weapon in Power Slap, Dempster didn’t hesitate.
“Offense,” she said confidently.
“I’m oddly strong for someone my size. I’ve got a big athletic background. Mikey’s got a chin, no doubt — she took some big shots from Paige. But I’m confident in my striking.”
Main Card Spot? No Apologies
Not everyone will agree with a newcomer landing a coveted main card spot in Power Slap. Dempster is unfazed.
“I understand the frustration, but I’m grateful for the opportunity,” she said.
When asked for a more direct answer? “Go f* yourself,”** she laughed.
“Get in there. You give it a shot.”
Message to Her Opponent
With the fight quickly approaching, what would Dempster say to Michael Michelle Brown?
“Good luck, Mikey. I’m excited to see you right in front of me. I wish you the best outside — but once we’re standing in front of each other, it’s game on.”
Why You Should Tune In
Finally, for any casual fans deciding whether to tune in to Power Slap 13, Dempster gave a simple pitch:
“It’s going to be one of the best ones. You’ve got two girls showing that it doesn’t matter what we look like or who we are. We can get in there and be just as dirty as the boys — and put on a great fight.”
Power Slap 13 takes place June 27 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas during UFC International Fight Week. Stay tuned to Slap News for full coverage, interviews, and results.