The oblique kick is going to be banned in MMA following a commission meeting on the controversial strike, with an official announcement expected soon. The California State Athletic Commission opened its review after UFC 331, and Dana White has said he would support a ban amid fighter confusion and career-ending knee injuries. Joe Rogan said on his podcast with Paddy Pimblett that the kick "is going to be made illegal," citing the knee injury Shavkat Rakhmonov suffered when Ian Garry landed one. Pimblett disagreed, arguing the strike is something fighters simply have to deal with.
The oblique kick is reportedly headed for a ban in MMA, with an official announcement said to be coming soon after a commission meeting on the strike, Bloody Elbow reported. The news has not been officially confirmed.
According to the report, the California State Athletic Commission opened its review of the kick after UFC 331. Dana White has said he would support a ban, pointing to fighter confusion over the strike and the career-ending knee injuries it has caused. Joe Rogan went further on his podcast with Paddy Pimblett, saying the kick "is going to be made illegal." He cited the knee injury Shavkat Rakhmonov suffered when Ian Garry landed one. Pimblett disagreed, arguing it is simply something fighters have to deal with.
The fighters in the debate
Rakhmonov, a 32-year-old Kazakh fighter, is 19-0 and stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach. He lands 3.25 significant strikes per minute at 60 percent accuracy and averages 1.4 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His most recent recorded fight was a unanimous decision win over Garry at UFC 310 on December 7, 2024, a five-round bout. That is the same opponent Rogan linked to the knee injury.
Pimblett, 31, is a lightweight ranked fifth in the division with a 24-4 record. The Englishman averages 5.48 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. His most recent recorded fight was a first-round submission win over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329 on July 11, 2026. That followed a unanimous decision loss to Justin Gaethje in a title fight at UFC 324 in January.
White, 57, is the UFC's public face, and his stated support for a ban carries weight given the promotion's influence with regulators.
Why it matters
- A ban would change how fighters defend against the lead leg, a strike that has produced serious knee injuries.
- The reported split between Rogan and Pimblett shows the debate is not settled among fighters and commentators.
- Any rule would need regulatory adoption, and the California commission's review is the step reported so far.
Rogan's comments came as a forecast rather than a ruling, and the timing and wording of any rule change remain unclear until the commission or the UFC speaks officially.
