Stephen Thompson Wants Sidekicks To The Knees Banned

Stephen Thompson came up on the wrong side of a unanimous decision against Darren Till in the main event of UFC Fight Night Liverpool.

The top five ranked fighter suffered an MCL injury in the bout, which occurred from side kicks delivered by his opponent.

“You know I tore my MCL in the fight with Till,” Thompson told BJ Penn.com’s Chris Taylor. “We did an MRI and thankfully nothing else was damaged. No surgery is required for this injury but I have to give it at least eight weeks to heal properly before I can get back to training.”

Thompson did have to get the MCL injury repaired and it is unknown at this time when he will return to the Octagon.

One suggestion Thompson would like to make is to make side kicks to the knee illegal, in the same way such moves as low blows and eye gouges are illegal.

“I honestly think that strike should be made illegal,” says Thompson. “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.”

Although Thompson wants the technique banned, it is currently legal in every location the UFC and many other promotions hold events at.