Morning Report | Aljamain Sterling responds to Andy Foster oblique kick ban: ‘Can we fix accountability for following the rules first?’

Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has pushed back against California Athletic Commission Director Andy Foster's proposal to ban oblique kicks, arguing that the focus should instead be on enforcing existing rules. The debate was sparked after Brunno Ferreira used oblique kicks against Edmen Shahbazyan in a UFC 331 preliminary bout, prompting Foster to announce he would pursue a ban on the technique—a move supported by UFC CEO Dana White. Speaking on Ariel Helwani's YouTube channel Wednesday, Sterling questioned the logic of outlawing oblique kicks when fighters routinely suffer head trauma from strikes and kicks without adequate referee intervention. He criticized referees for failing to enforce current rules consistently, citing instances where officials stood by while illegal strikes occurred or allowed dangerous situations to develop unchecked. Sterling argued that MMA fighters knowingly accept risk as part of the sport and questioned why oblique kicks warranted priority attention when more severe injuries happen regularly and go unpunished. He emphasized that referees should focus on accountability and proper enforcement rather than expanding the rulebook. Sterling's comments reflect broader frustration within the fighter community over inconsistent officiating and the gap between rules as written and rules as enforced. While acknowledging Foster's past support during his own career trauma, Sterling insisted that fundamental enforcement issues must be addressed before adding new prohibitions.