Aljamain Sterling Rips Oblique Kick Ban: Fix the Refs First

Aljamain Sterling isn't buying the sudden push to outlaw oblique kicks, and the former bantamweight champion made that clear on Ariel Helwani's channel this week. The former 135-pound titleholder — now 26-5 and ranked #4 at featherweight — argued the sport has far bigger problems than a technique that's completely legal and almost nobody actually uses.

The conversation kicked off at UFC 331, where Brunno Ferreira (15-5) landed oblique kicks on Edmen Shahbazyan during their prelim. Shahbazyan protested mid-fight, won the decision anyway, and walked away without serious damage. That didn't stop California Athletic Commission director Andy Foster from floating a ban afterward — a position Dana White quickly backed.

Sterling's Case

Sterling's problem isn't with the kick. It's with the logic. He pointed out that fighters eat head kicks with no shin pads, take repeated elbows to the skull, and absorb knees while refs stand and watch. Against that backdrop, he asked, how exactly does an oblique kick rank as the thing worth legislating? His blunt fix: move your leg.

He also reminded everyone this is a violent sport by design. Sterling referenced the terrifying scene involving Raoni Barcelos and the familiar sight of a fighter getting flatlined by a head kick — both scarier than anything an oblique kick produces. Nobody signed up to play paddle ball, as he put it.

The Real Problem

The sharper point underneath the rant is about enforcement. MMA officiating has taken heavy criticism for years, with some referees openly reluctant to deduct points even after repeated fouls. Sterling's argument is simple: why add a rule when the ones already on the books get ignored? He wants refs watching tape, asking why they missed a foul, and actually holding themselves accountable.

Sterling did give Foster credit on a personal level, noting the director checked on him after Marlon Moraes knocked him cold. But respect doesn't change his stance. Up next, he faces Kevin Vallejos — and he half-jokingly asked Vallejos to spare his knees while he's at it. The message to Foster stands: get the basics right before writing new rules.