LAS VEGAS — Power Slap 16 delivered a war for the ages, and the light heavyweight king Ron “Wolverine” Bata once again proved why he’s the face of the sport. After six grueling rounds against Alan Klingbeil, the defending champion retained his belt in what Dana White called “one of the best matches we’ve ever seen.”
“Still feels pretty good,” Wolverine told Slap News after the fight. “Obviously still pretty swollen too. But it was an awesome victory. And for Dana to say that, it’s a huge compliment for me personally.”
Fired Up From the Start
Even before the first slap, fans noticed something different in Bata’s walkout — he looked sharper, more intense, and a little pissed off.
“I was just determined,” he said. “Me and my wife had a bet going, so I really wanted to win. There was no relaxing, no laid back — I just wanted to get out there and get it done.”
And win he did. The two warriors traded bombs for five rounds before heading into Power Slap’s first-ever sixth round in a title fight, a sudden-death tiebreaker where Wolverine sealed the deal.
“I Didn’t Think It Should’ve Gone to a Sixth Round”
“I was kinda ticked off,” he admitted. “I could see Alan rolling and trying to flinch, and they only called it one time. I didn’t think it should’ve gone to a sixth round, but it did. So I told myself, ‘Don’t step back, don’t move — just stand your ground.’ That’s what won it.”
Both men were rewarded for their effort. “I didn’t even know about the bonus until right before the press conference,” Wolverine said. “I’m glad Alan got it too. It took both of us to make that fight happen.”
The Knockdown and the Rage
When Wolverine dropped Klingbeil in round two, his celebration said it all — raw emotion from a champion tired of hearing “and new.”
“I was tired of all that,” he laughed. “I didn’t get a good connection in round one, but when I dropped him in the second, yeah, I was fired up. I gotta hand it to Brandon Bordeaux though — he kept me focused between rounds. That dude’s an amazing coach. Out of every event I’ve done, that was the best corner I’ve ever had.”
Thoughts on Logan Greenhalgh and the Division
Wolverine was also watching when Logan Greenhalgh stunned the world earlier that night with a first-round knockout over Russell Rivera.
“I was surprised,” he said. “Logan did a great job. He’s a lefty, and I don’t think Russell’s ever been hit on that side. He got the win in round one and didn’t even have to take a shot — that’s what I wanted to do tonight, but it didn’t go that way.”
When asked about the state of the division, Wolverine didn’t hesitate to name names.
“It’s between Logan, Luke, and Vern right now,” he said. “Logan went from number eight to beating the number one contender — he’s gotta be up there. If they want him to get one more fight, maybe he faces Luke or Vern first. But yeah, Logan’s definitely in the mix.”
On Darius the Destroyer
Wolverine was happy to see his old rival Darius the Destroyer back in form.
“Honestly, I was happy to see him get that win,” Wolverine said. “I’ve wanted to see him fight for the belt since before Power Slap even existed. He’s earned it. We’ve both been doing this since slap fight championship days, and I think that matchup would be a hell of a fight.”
Finally Winning a Coin Toss
Believe it or not, Power Slap 16 marked the first time Wolverine won a coin toss in eight events.
“It was an awesome feeling,” he said. “I’d been telling myself all week — one and done. I finally got to go first. Didn’t make the best connection, but it was nice to finally be the one delivering first for a change.”
When asked about conspiracy theories surrounding the coin flips, Wolverine just shrugged.
“This is my job,” he said. “If they say I lost the coin toss, I lost it. I’d love to see them flip it live again like they used to, but at the end of the day, you’re gonna get hit either way. It doesn’t really matter.”
On Austin Turpin Moving Up to Heavyweight
The champ didn’t mince words when asked about Austin Turpin being forced to move up a division.
“He missed weight three or four times,” Wolverine said. “At some point you gotta move him up. People give Jake Paul crap for fighting smaller guys — well, Turpin was doing the same thing. I think it’s good for him to go to heavyweight and fight guys his own size.”
Nearing the End of the Road
After years of wars inside and outside the cage, Wolverine hinted that his time may soon be coming to an end.
“I think I’ve got two more fights left on my contract,” he said. “They take good care of me, but I’ve had over 20 slap matches and 30 cage fights before that. I’ve taken enough hits. I’ve had my fame, and I’ve enjoyed it. I just want to finish strong and see who takes over the division next.”
Putting the Beard Controversy to Bed
And finally — the beard talk.
“I should’ve put that to rest,” he said. “There’s still skin showing through it. The beard doesn’t protect you from a 200-pound man throwing everything he’s got at your face. My wife wanted me to try something new, so we kept it for this fight. Hopefully now people can stop talking about it.”
Wolverine now stands tied with Damien Dibbell for the most title defenses in Power Slap history (four). With the win, he solidified his legacy as one of the most durable, consistent, and respected champions the sport has ever seen.
“I’ve had my time, and I’ve loved every bit of it,” Wolverine said. “But whoever’s next better be ready. The light heavyweight division’s only getting better.”