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Dana White gives update on Jake Hager after scary Power Slap injury

Posted: Sep 24th 2026 By: Joseph Currier

Jake Hager is set for further treatment after the scary eye injury he suffered while competing for Power Slap.

The 44-year-old Hager needed to undergo emergency surgery after being knocked out by Johnny Magna in their bout last week. Magna’s slap left Hager with blood and fluid leaking from his eye. Because the scene was so gruesome, Dana White ordered that a replay not be shown. White called it one of the worst injuries he’s ever seen in either UFC or Power Slap.

We haven’t gotten any word on what the long-term prognosis for Hager is, but White did give an update on Tuesday while speaking at a post-fight press conference for Dana White’s Contender Series. White said Hager is being sent to a specialist in Miami following surgery.

“He went into emergency surgery that night, and then we’re sending him to a specialist down in Miami,” White said before being asked if there’s anything that can be done to avoid injuries like this.

“There’s lots of unfortunate things that happen in combat sports. Those two kids [who fought on Contender Series] that couldn’t stay here tonight and are in the hospital — I mean, it’s a contact sport, it happens. And what you do is, you make sure that you do all the proper medical testing before the fight. You have the right guys there during the fight. And you take care of these kids after the fight. It’s the biggest priority for me. Other than having great fights, the only thing I really give a sh*t about is that these kids are all safe and healthy.”

Hager, best known for his pro wrestling career in WWE (where he was known as Jack Swagger) and AEW, now has a 1-2 record in Power Slap. He won his debut fight but has now suffered two consecutive knockouts. He’s also competed in MMA in the past and has a background in amateur wrestling and football.

Before making his Power Slap debut in April, Hager said he knew what he was signing up for and expected injuries to happen.

“You’re signing up to get slapped and trying to slap someone back as hard as you can,” he told TMZ’s Inside the Ring in March. “So I expect injuries to happen. I know UFC does a great job of covering all expenses related to the injuries. I’m not worried about it, to be honest.”

Some good news for Jake Hager —

Amid this scary injury, Hager has shared some positive news in his personal life. He and his partner Patricia Blackburn (who also competes for Power Slap) revealed to Slap News that they are now engaged, making them “the first official Power Slap couple.”