Jones' Oblique Kick Faces Ban Per CSAC Official

One of Jon Jones' signature techniques could be outlawed from MMA, according to a top California regulator.

California State Athletic Commission executive Andy Foster told The Ariel Helwani Show that he believes oblique kicks should be banned, citing the severe and lasting damage they inflict on fighters. Foster called the technique — a straight stomp to the knee that Jones used throughout his UFC career — too dangerous to justify its continued use in sanctioned competition.

Foster Says Oblique Kick Risks Outweigh Benefits

"I think it's time. I think that there are more risks than we should require our fighters to have to deal with to participate in mixed martial arts," Foster said, per MMA Junkie. He explained that the kick targets ligaments in the knee and can cause what doctors call the unhappy triad, a simultaneous rupture of three structures that requires lengthy rehab and often produces lifelong complications.

Foster added that fighters have a narrow window to compete and earn, making permanent knee damage from oblique kicks an unacceptable tradeoff. "It's not worth it," he said. "I don't think the public loses anything if this kick is banned. There's plenty of other techniques if you're using it for distance."

Jones retired in early 2026 after defending the UFC heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. He was known for using oblique kicks to control distance and punish opponents, though several fighters suffered injuries from the technique during his run. Foster's comments mark the first public push by a major athletic commission to remove oblique kicks from the sport.

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• BJPenn — Jon Jones’ famous technique faces ban according to top MMA official