Morning Report | Aljamain Sterling responds to Andy Foster oblique kick ban: ‘Can we fix accountability for following the rules first?’
MMA Fighting • • sports
Key Points:
- Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling criticized California Athletic Commission Director Andy Foster's consideration of banning oblique kicks, calling it an overreaction and urging focus on enforcing existing rules and referee accountability instead.
- Sterling highlighted the dangers of other legal techniques in MMA, such as head kicks and elbows, arguing that oblique kicks are part of the sport and fighters should learn to defend against them rather than banning the move.
- The controversy arose after Edmen Shahbazyan protested Brunno Ferreira’s use of oblique kicks during their UFC 331 prelim fight, prompting Foster to consider banning the technique with UFC CEO Dana White’s support.
- Sterling also condemned inconsistent refereeing in MMA, noting that some officials fail to enforce rules properly, which he believes poses a greater threat to fighter safety than the oblique kicks under debate.
