Some observers have labelled Khalil Rountree’s knee stomp TKO finish against Modestas Bukauskas at UFC Fight Night 191 on Saturday night as a ‘dirty’ move that should be outlawed, but his opponent is not one of them.
Instead, Bukuaskas has sought to remove all blame from Rountree, despite having been left with a blown ACL, MCL and PCL as a result of the technique.
“Please give my opponent some slack, that kick was all good, it was my job to defend and I didn’t,” Bukauskas wrote on Sunday. “Let the man enjoy his victory.”
Rountree also issued his own statement on the matter, wishing his opponent a fast recovery.
“Fighting has its ups and downs and although it’s entertaining to the masses is F*cking dangerous and anything can happen,” Rountree wrote. “I spoke with my opponent after the match and wished him a speedy recovery because he will come back stronger and better as all great fighters do.”
Nevertheless, while all is good between the two fighters, other prominent UFC stars have spoken out to urge that the so-called oblique kick be banned from the sport.
“Dana White, please protect me,” Belal Muhammad said from behind the analyst desk on the UFC Fight Night 191 post-fight broadcast. “Let’s change a few [rules]. You gotta protect your stars here.”
It was a statement that recently retired UFC Fighter turned analyst Alan Joubain agreed with.
“If this one lands, it’s definitely blowing out your knee,” Joubain said. “So I don’t think we need it any more.”
“I don’t care if I’m unpopular for this but that bullshit kick should be banned,” Vinc Pichel said.
“Fan of Khalil. Love seeing him win. Hate that fucking kick. Have always hated that kick,” Andre Fili admitted.
“That’s exactly why that shit shouldn’t be allowed!!! Hoe sh*t!!,” Jamahal Hill declared.
“Agreed, this strike should be illegal. It is a career ender. Who can we talk to about this? @ufc This in no way is a knock on Rountree. His performance and execution was great to watch. But this strike should be addressed,” Kelvin Gastelum said.
“I admire the technique as a martial artist but as a fan I feel like this technique could easily be banned and nobody would be mad about it,” Deron Winn stated.
It should be noted that not everyone agreed with it being banned though.
“Bunch of weenies. How many of those kicks have fucked up someone’s knees compared to heel hooks? It’s a damn fight,” Ricky Simon declared.
“I’ve literally won a fight like that in the past and I’ll get mine one day too and that day will suck. That’s how it goes. Go watch something else, pussy,” Tanner Boser told a fan who wanted the strike banned.
