Chinese athlete Zhao Honggang faced Kazakhstan's Mukhammed Amantayev on Friday night in the third round in the World Slap Fighting Championship. He was knocked out and fell to the ground in visible pain. Photo: Courtesy of China News Service

Zhao Honggang, a Chinese athlete who was defeated in a world contest packed with explosive knockouts clarified on Saturday that he did not suffer a concussion but his eye socket required five stitches.

Zhao faced Kazakhstan's Mukhammed Amantayev on Friday night in the third round in the World Slap Fighting Championship. He was knocked out and fell to the ground in visible pain. He suffered facial injuries that required stitches and had his eye bruised.

Zhao posted on his social media account on Saturday, clarifying that after a thorough hospital examination, he did not suffer a concussion. His cheekbone had a minor fracture, and his eye socket required five stitches.

According to his personal profile, Zhao is the first Asian athlete from China to sign with PowerSlap, and he is the ninth-generation inheritor of the Qijiatong back-fist martial arts tradition.

The PowerSlap competition was founded by UFC President Dana White. The contest format involves two competitors standing face-to-face and taking turns delivering slaps with maximum force to the opponent's cheek.

Global Times