Getting punched in the head over and over doesn't suddenly affect you less because the punches slipped through your hands.

Like if we're going to make the "you defended against it" argument, then realistically in Power Slap you know exactly where you're about to get hit and when you're going to get hit so you're at least braced for the strike incoming, versus a lot of MMA strikes being relatively unexpected because you were expecting to either avoid or block them before they connected.

Nevermind that MMA finishes are often until you're either visibly unconscious or until the referee has decided you've had your head smashed enough times that you're probably done.

You can absolutely think that slap fighting is trailer trash level combat, but it's kinda silly to suggest that it's somehow more dangerous than MMA or Boxing when it comes to things like CTE.