Joe Rogan says the oblique kick is on its way out. On a recent episode of his podcast, the UFC color commentator claimed that the stomping kick to the front of the knee is going to be made illegal in mixed martial arts. The clip spread fast after the Championship Rounds account (@ChampRDS) posted it on X on Wednesday.
“It is going to be made illegal, I know. I think we’re announcing it right now,” Rogan said in the clip.
That is the whole of what’s on the record. Rogan didn’t name a commission, a rules committee or an effective date in the clip that circulated, and none of the source material includes an official statement from any sanctioning body or from the UFC confirming a rule change. So for now this is Rogan’s claim, delivered with confidence and one very load-bearing hedge at the start of that second sentence.
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Why the kick draws so much heat
The oblique kick has been a sore subject for years. Opponents of the technique, including fighters and doctors, point to the angle of attack. A heel driven straight into a planted knee can force the joint past its natural range, and the risk of hyperextension and torn ligaments is the reason the strike keeps coming up whenever people talk about rule reform.
The counterargument showed up quickly. Jed Meshew replied to the clip on X with some dry skepticism about how much of a menace the kick really is in practice.
“For the deadliest move in all of MMA, weird that you don’t see it in every fight by both fighters. In fact, you hardly ever see it,” Meshew wrote.
He’s poking at a real gap. Critics describe the oblique kick as a career-ender, yet you can sit through an entire numbered card without seeing anyone throw one with bad intentions.
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Where Rogan goes next
Rogan comes back to work this week. He sat out UFC 333 because it was an international card, and he’s set to return to the booth for UFC 334 on Saturday, November 14, at Madison Square Garden. He’ll sit alongside Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik, who signed a new long-term contract with the UFC on Wednesday, according to a promotion press release.
The card has two title fights on top. Ciryl Gane defends the heavyweight championship against Josh Hokit in the main event, and Kayla Harrison returns against Amanda Nunes in the co-main. The main card starts at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+. Dustin Poirier, Dominick Cruz and Chris Weidman will handle the analyst desk.
Here’s my take. I’ve been burned enough times by people swearing something is a done deal to want paperwork before I believe a rule change. A commentator saying “I think we’re announcing it right now” on a podcast doesn’t amount to an announcement. Commissions announce things in writing, and I’ve lost money on guys at microphones who sounded sure of themselves. If the kick does get banned, Meshew’s point tells you how much it’ll change the sport, which is probably less than people expect, because almost nobody throws it to begin with. Somebody in New York will ask Rogan about it this week. Until a commission puts it in writing, I’d price this as a podcast rumor with good intentions.
