What happened: California Athletic Commission head Andy Foster has proposed outlawing the oblique kick in mixed martial arts due to joint danger, a stance supported by UFC CEO Dana White. Critics of the potential ban argue that past safety rules were implemented to prevent catastrophic damage or death, distinguishing those outcomes from knee injuries. The counterargument asserts that a blown-out knee is a stock risk in athletics and does not meet the threshold for a prohibition.

Why it matters: The debate centers on where regulators should draw the line on acceptable damage in combat sports. Opponents of a ban point out that other legal grappling techniques, such as heel hooks, carry similar or greater risks for knee trauma. Regulators maintain the strike is disproportionately dangerous and requires intervention.

What to watch: Any formal prohibition would require an amendment to the Unified Rules of MMA. The oblique kick remains a legal strike in the UFC.