The sidekicks to the knee are on the rise in the UFC and now, Stephen Thompson wants it banned. Thompson, who is coming off a defeat against Darren Till, shared his take on the issue during a recent interview with BJ Penn.com.
Thompson also threw in the fight between Robert Whittaker and Yoel Romero as an example on how dangerous the kick can be. Below is what he had to say.
“I honestly think that strike should be made illegal. It could end somebodies career. You know Robert Whittaker had to have ACL surgery following his first fight with Yoel Romero due to that particular strike. And as you could see, Robert Whittaker made sure to beat Yoel Romero to the punch in their second fight. He threw a lot more than he did this time around. It is just a very dangerous technique. I think a lot of fighters throw that strike but sometimes it is for different reasons. When I fought Jorge Masvidal he used that same side kick to the knee. But when Jorge threw it, he was doing so just to keep me away. Not in an attempt to injure my knee. But when I was in the cage fighting Till it felt like ok this guy is trying to break my leg. It was like he had intentions of ripping everything out in my knee. That’s how I felt anyway. Like this dude is really trying to injure me in here. I think it an ugly strike and that it should be made illegal.” He said.
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