Former UFC Star Dan Hardy on Khalil Rountree's Horrifying Kick: 'It's Not a Tickling Contest'

Former UFC fighter and analyst Dan Hardy has shared his two cents regarding the controversial oblique kick that guaranteed Khalil Rountree a victory over Modestas Bukauskas.

The incident took place during the second round of the bout between the two fighters at UFC Vegas 36 when Rountree landed a perfectly-timed kick on Bukauskas' left knee.

The Lithuanian athlete immediately hit the mat in pain and the fight was stopped. However, despite going home with the victory, the technique divided the mixed martial arts world.

DIFFERENT OPINIONS

While fighters such as Jamahal Hill and Mike Rhodes believe the move should be banned, others such as Hardy argue its all part of the game.

Rampage Jackson also called for the move to be banned.

According to Hardy, there's no reason to ban the move because fighters know what they're signing up for and should expect anything to happen inside the octagon. He said:

"It fries my brain. Honestly, it does. And the fact that professional fighters would come out and say it, you’re in the wrong sport. You’re doing the wrong thing if you’re concerned about picking up a knee injury."

The 39-year-old claimed knee injuries can happen in all sorts of sports, which is why the oblique kick used by Rountree shouldn't be banned.

"The Outlaw" stated that fighters walk into the cage to "try and take each other's head off" and that if they start banning effective techniques, then fighters will struggle with a "very limited rule set."

JON JONES

Rountree, however, was not the first UFC athlete to have gone under fire for using an oblique kick. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones used the move quite frequently during his fights.

In fact, the oblique kick played quite a role in several of his championship bouts due to its great effectiveness. Meanwhile, back in 2013, Rampage Jackson also called for the move to be banned.

According to Jackson, the kick is too dangerous and could easily put an end to someone's career, having felt its sting during a title bout with Jones. He added:

"It should be banned and it shows a lot about the fighter's character that he would throw it. How would he like it if somebody threw it at him and stopped him working for a year?"

The mixed martial arts world is indeed a dangerous one, and Alistair Overeem made sure to remind former UFC fighters Brock Lesnar and CM Punk that it is not make-believe and "lame" like the WWE.