Las Vegas, NV – Marisol Ruelas has been waiting for this moment, and on March 7th, she finally steps onto the Power Slap stage for the first time. Competing in the women’s bantamweight division (135 lbs), Ruelas is set to face fellow newcomer Maria Jose Favela in what promises to be an explosive debut.
The California-born fighter, who boasts a strong MMA background, never imagined herself in Power Slap—until she was introduced to the sport and its growing momentum.
“At first, my manager asked if I wanted a boxing match, and I just wasn’t interested,” Ruelas recalls. “Then he asked, ‘What about Power Slap?’ And I was like, ‘Wait, what?’”
Once she started looking into it, her mindset completely changed.
“I had no idea about the actual rules, but the more I looked into it, I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is actually kind of cool,’” she says. “And here we are!”
Months of Waiting – Now the Moment is Here
Ruelas’ Power Slap journey has been in the works for nearly six months.
“I was supposed to compete in October or December, but I just never got an opponent,” she reveals. “Then my manager told me we’d aim for March, and now, finally, we have a match!”
Her opponent, Maria Jose Favela, isn’t an unfamiliar name either.
“We’ve actually been following each other on social media for a long time,” Ruelas says. “I’m not sure if she still follows me, but we had the same manager and have fought for the same promotions.”
With two experienced combat athletes making their Power Slap debuts, this fight is one to watch.
From MMA to Power Slap – A New Challenge
Unlike most Power Slap competitors, Ruelas comes from an MMA background, having competed as a strawweight (115 lbs) and flyweight (125 lbs) for most of her career.
“I originally fought at strawweight, but it got too hard, so I moved up to flyweight,” she explains. “I had maybe one or two fights at bantamweight (135 lbs), but never officially.”
Now, competing at 135 lbs in Power Slap, she feels comfortable and ready.
“I didn’t want to cut weight for this, so this felt like a good weight to start at,” she says.
“I Don’t Wake Up Until I Get Hit” – The Mindset of a Warrior
What attracts Ruelas to Power Slap isn’t just the competition—it’s the adrenaline of getting hit.
“I know it sounds crazy, but even in fights, I don’t wake up until I get hit,” she laughs. “Something about getting hit makes me go, ‘Oh, okay, now I’m ready.’”
And with her opponent striking first, she won’t have to wait long to get that wake-up call.
“I actually wanted to get slapped first,” she says. “I know most people want to go first, but for me, I feel like when I get hit, I just turn into a different person. It’s like, ‘Alright, let’s go!’”
Fighting for Something Bigger – Her Son as Motivation
For Ruelas, competing in Power Slap isn’t just about herself anymore.
“Before I had a kid, I didn’t really have a reason,” she admits. “I was just doing it because I had nothing else.”
But now, everything has changed.
“Now, it’s my son,” she says. “I want to do something for him. I want him to look at me one day and say, ‘Wow, my mom was cool.’ He already thinks his dad is the coolest thing ever, so I have to beat him!”
Final Message to Maria Jose Favela
When asked if she had anything to say to her opponent, Ruelas kept it simple and full of energy.
“I’m excited for this! I’m glad we get to compete against each other. Let’s freaking go!”
💥 Power Slap XII – March 7th – Live from Fontainebleau, Las Vegas 💥
🔹 Will Marisol Ruelas’ insane toughness carry her to victory? Drop your predictions below! 🔹