After UFC 331, California Athletic Commission head Andy Foster called for an oblique-kick ban, and UFC CEO Dana White agreed. A SB Nation columnist argues the move is unwarranted, saying the risk of knee injuries is not enough to justify banning it.
The columnist says MMA rules address safety, public acceptance and entertainment, but argues oblique kicks do not cause the catastrophic harm that justifies a ban. He compares them with leg locks, which he says have caused more torn knees, and says he would accept restrictions at lower levels but not in championship-level MMA.
On Eddie Hearn, the writer says, to his knowledge, Hearn's deals with UFC fighters Tom Aspinall and Ian Machado Garry cover marketing and other commercial opportunities, not fight negotiations, though Hearn could still have a voice. He expects Hearn-linked fighters to face questions about Hearn and Dana White's dispute, and says Hearn would have little leverage unless he signed 100 UFC fighters.
