Sterling Rejects Foster's Plan To Ban Jones Kicks

Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling opposes California commission executive Andy Foster's proposal to ban oblique kicks from mixed martial arts.

Foster, who leads the California State Athletic Commission, recently argued that oblique kicks deserve prohibition because fighters take too long recovering from resulting leg injuries. He pointed to UFC athlete Nursulton Ruziboev's recent injury as evidence. Jon Jones popularized the technique during championship runs that included victories over Daniel Cormier, Stipe Miocic, and Quinton Jackson.

Sterling Challenges Foster's Oblique Kick Ban

Sterling addressed Foster's position during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, as BJPenn.com reported. The former champion questioned recovery-time arguments when fighters face permanent brain damage from head strikes. "We're getting head kicked with no shin pads on," he told Helwani. "We're getting elbowed to the dome multiple times because referees want to watch a murder scene happen in real time."

Sterling suggested defensive responsibility instead of rule changes. He argued fighters should train footwork to avoid the kicks rather than petition commissions for protection.

Jones retired last year after defending his heavyweight title multiple times using oblique kicks as a range-control weapon. No universal plan exists yet to remove the technique from sanctioned bouts, though Foster's comments signal the debate could intensify through 2027.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Former UFC champ scolds attempts to ban Jon Jones’ oblique kick technique