Jon Jones' Ex-Opponent Rejects Calls to Ban Oblique Kicks Despite Painful History
Thiago Santos doesn't view oblique kicks as something that should be made illegal despite having nasty experiences with it himself.
Oblique kicks are back in the midst of a renewed debate over what crosses the line in MMA after California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) executive director Andy Foster reopened that conversation. One would expect its victims to be particularly vocal against that move. Thiago Santos appears to be a unique exception.
Thiago Santos Voices His Support For Controversial MMA Move
Thiago Santos knows exactly how nasty oblique kicks can be. The Brazilian's notorious UFC 239 split-decision loss against Jon Jones resulted in a career-altering double-knee surgery. Still, 'Marreta' doesn't find the move any more threatening than other kicks that can inflict just as much damage to a fighter's legs.
“I personally don’t see the need to ban oblique kicks. I don’t see it as an illegal technique, a technique that’s that difficult to defend from," Santos shared in a recent interview with Guilherme Cruz, translated from Portuguese.
In fact, the American Top Team star doesn't think damage is enough of a reason to single out the move.
“Then you are going to say it causes a lot of damage. Man, I think a well-placed kick, like an Edson Barboza kick, a well-placed low kick to the knee, can cause a lot of damage.”
(1/2) Should MMA ban oblique kicks?
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Thiago Santos, who had double knee surgery after Jon Jones used this attack on him, weighs in on the controversial technique.
“I think there are other more important things they should be focusing on. Like strikes that are actually illegal,… pic.twitter.com/C5rwAZdSpY
While many may not see eye to eye with Santos, his personal experience with the kick definitely adds intrigue to the opinion. After that ugly night, the light heavyweight never returned with the same gusto, winning only once in his last 8 MMA outings. Yet, the Brazilian refuses to let that become evidence that oblique kicks are somehow impossible to defend.
“And the guy has the option to block it or move his leg out of the way. So I think it works the same way. The guy can bend his knee, move his leg out of the way, move to the side," Santos explained.
More recently, Ian Garry used the move against Islam Makhachev, although failing to produce a victory. Brunno Ferreira also struck a similar kick against Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC 331.
While the move continues to split the combat world, Santos wants that attention to be on something far more important.
Thiago Santos Demands Better Accountability For Illegal Techniques
The Brazilian fighter believes the current debate has pushed moves with real consequences aside, and Santos wants the commission to clear matters there first.
“There are more important things they should be focusing on,” Marreta continued. “Like strikes that are actually illegal, like shots to the back of the head, eye pokes, to actually change the rules and impose more severe punishment for those things. Those are the things that are really concerning.”
That does ring a bell for UFC fans, who will remember how Ciryl Gane's illegal double-eye poke eventually forced Tom Aspinall to vacate his heavyweight title. Then Bon Gamin again caused controversy after many pointed out his back-of-the-head shots against Alex Pereira at the UFC White House event.
Santos wants the CSAC to eliminate those infractions first, punishing the techniques that are already illegal with serious action. Oblique kicks, however, don't need an immediate discussion, the Brazilian feels.
