Top Athletic Commission Official Wants Jon Jones' Oblique Kick Banned

Jon Jones' signature oblique kick could soon be illegal in MMA. Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, told The Ariel Helwani Show that the controversial technique should be removed from the sport.

"I think it's time," Foster said. "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 pointed to the severe damage oblique kicks can cause, specifically the "unhappy triad," a simultaneous rupture of three knee structures that requires extensive rehabilitation and can leave fighters with lifelong complications. Given the limited earning windows most fighters have, Foster argued the risk is not worth keeping the technique legal.

"It's not worth it. I don't think the public loses anything if this kick is banned," Foster said, per Yardbarker.

The oblique kick, a straight kick aimed at an opponent's lead knee, became synonymous with Jones during his dominant run as UFC light heavyweight champion. The technique drew criticism from fans and fighters for years due to its potential to cause career-ending injuries, but no athletic commission had moved to ban it until now.

Foster's comments mark the first public push by a major U.S. athletic commission to remove the technique. No specific timeline for implementation has been announced, but the conversation has shifted from hypothetical to actionable. If the CSAC moves forward, other state commissions would likely face pressure to follow.

Dana White has previously expressed openness to banning the technique, per multiple reports, adding momentum to the push.