In MMA, Can You Kick the Knee? However, knee stomping, commonly known as an oblique kick, is now permitted in the UFC. This occurs when a fighter strikes a portion of their opponent's thigh right above the knee, potentially hyperextending it and injuring the anterior cruciate and medical collateral ligaments.
Knees are important tools for combat athletes to use in battle. In MMA, one can either strike with their fist or kick with their foot. Kicks are more powerful than punches because they target vital organs such as the head and heart. A kick that hits its target may cause unconsciousness immediately after the attack or may simply distract the victim while providing time for another body part to be hit.
However, just like with any other part of the body, if you kick someone in the leg too hard or out of position, then you could really injure them. Therefore, it is important to know how and where you can and cannot kick. Not only does this apply to MMA fighters but also to soccer players, baseball players, and even ice hockey players who might want to sneak a leg kick here and there.
In conclusion, knees are very useful tools for combat athletes to use in battle. However, you should only kick with the intent of hitting your target and only those parts of the body that aren't being used as weapons against you.
It is now up to the referee to decide if a kick or knee to a "downed" combatant is lawful or not. "It's a judgment decision," Ratner remarked. Make sure to follow @MMAWeeklycom on Twitter and like MMAWeekly.com on Facebook.
Of fact, a knee kick can be successful if thrown correctly, at the right moment, and with the right distance. Many MMA fighters may throw a left-right combo followed by a leg kick to the opponent's front leg. This technique is called a "bulldog punch" and it is very effective because it connects on target (the leg) and puts great stress on the opponent's leg.
The most common mistake made when throwing a leg kick is that the foot isn't lifted high enough into the air. If the kicking foot is held flat on the ground, it will not produce the desired effect. The heel should be raised so that the toes point forward, creating a slightly bent position for the foot. Only then will the leg kick have maximum penetration and damage potential.
Another common error is that the kicker waits until after he or she has thrown the kick to try and find out if it landed. It is important to look down at your feet during a fight to see where you are kicking - this allows you to adjust your attack accordingly. For example, if you see that your kick did not connect, you can change direction or add follow-up attacks before the opponent knows what hit him or her.
Finally, keep in mind that while a single leg kick can cause serious injury, they are rarely the finishing move of choice for modern fighters.
Can a fighter on the ground kick a standing opponent in the knee or head as they approach in the UFC? Yes. It is entirely legal. It doesn't happen very often, but it does happen occasionally with a grounded opponent. The reason this isn't done more often is because it is not effective in most cases and can be dangerous if the foot connects with the head or throat of your opponent.
The only time I would avoid this technique is if you have someone behind their back necking them. At that point you want to go for the choke instead so you can't move their head around. But other than that, head-kicks are perfectly legal in the UFC.
Even though it's not common, there is no rule against it when done legally.
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