Last updated: May 25, 2026
Quick Definition
A side kick is a linear striking technique in MMA where a fighter pivots on the supporting foot, chambers the kicking knee across the body, and thrusts the leg sideways into the opponent, landing with the heel or the blade of the foot.
What is a side kick?
The side kick is a sideways thrust kick borrowed from traditional martial arts. It is known as yoko geri in karate and yeop chagi in taekwondo, and it shows up in MMA most often when a fighter comes from one of those backgrounds, or from wushu and kickboxing. Unlike circular kicks that whip around in a horizontal arc, the side kick travels in a straight line, with the body turned side-on to the opponent at the moment of impact.
In an MMA context, the side kick is a niche tool rather than a staple. Fighters use it to keep opponents at a distance, to stop incoming pressure, to attack the lead knee, and occasionally to score body or head strikes. It is most associated with karate-influenced fighters, who built their game around it before moving to mixed rules. For a casual fan, the side kick is the kick that looks nothing like a Muay Thai roundhouse: the leg goes out sideways, not around.
The reason it matters in MMA commentary is that a small number of fighters have built large parts of their striking identity around it, and a related variant, the oblique kick, has become one of the more debated techniques in the sport.
How the side kick works
The kick begins from a stance where the fighter turns their body sideways relative to the opponent. The kicking knee chambers up toward the chest, the supporting foot pivots so the heel points at the target, and the kicker drives the hip forward to extend the leg in a straight line. Power comes from driving the hip toward the target so the kick lands with the side edge of the foot, often called the sokoto, or with the heel.
The striking surface depends on which variant the fighter throws and what they are aiming at. A side kick to the body or head usually lands with the blade of the foot, while an oblique kick, driving down into the knee, lands with the heel, ankle locked. Either way, the body absorbs the strike on a small, hard contact patch, which is what gives the kick its compressive force.
Common targets in MMA include the midsection, the lead knee or thigh, and, less often, the head. The body is generally a better target than the head because the kick is quicker to deliver from there and harder for the opponent to read. The range is medium to long. A fighter can stay just outside punching range and still land it.
Side kick vs other MMA kicks
Most readers run into the side kick when trying to figure out how it differs from the other straight or pushing kicks in MMA. The table below covers the main distinctions.
| Kick | Direction | Striking surface | Primary use in MMA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side kick | Linear, body turned sideways | Heel or blade of foot | Distance management, body strikes, knee attacks |
| Front kick | Linear, body squared up | Ball or top of foot | Damage to head or body, head-kick KOs |
| Teep / push kick | Linear, body squared up | Sole of foot | Pushing the opponent back, breaking rhythm |
| Roundhouse kick | Circular, swinging arc | Shin or instep | Leg, body and head damage |
| Oblique kick | Downward-angled linear | Heel | Attacking the lead knee |
The cleanest way to separate them: roundhouses, arc, front kicks, and teeps go straight ahead with the body facing forward, and side kicks go straight out to the side with the body rotated. A roundhouse generates power from horizontal hip rotation. A side kick generates power from a linear hip drive after the supporting foot has pivoted to face away from the target.
Side kick vs oblique kick
The oblique kick is the source of the most confusion. It is technically a side kick variant, but the term is used for one specific application: a downward-angled side kick aimed at the lead knee or upper thigh.
In practice, the oblique kick is a pushing strike landed just above the opponent’s knee, with the heel driving in at roughly 45 degrees. A standard side kick, by contrast, goes out laterally at body or head height and lands with the blade of the foot. The two share a movement family, but the target and finishing angle are different.
The oblique kick is also more controversial. It hyperextends the knee on impact, and several professional fighters have suffered ligament injuries from it. Jon Jones popularised it in the UFC, and it has since spread to fighters like Robert Whittaker, who used it repeatedly against Yoel Romero at UFC 225, and Darren Till, whose side kick to Stephen Thompson’s knee in Liverpool caused an MCL tear.
Types of side kicks
Several variants of the side kick show up across combat sports, distinguished by stance, footwork, and target. The most common forms are:
- Standard side kick: thrown from the side stance with no preceding step. Quick, low-commitment, used at close to medium range.
- Step-up side kick: the back foot steps up to the front foot before the kick fires. Adds power and range.
- Long step side kick: the back foot steps wide and around to gain extra distance on a retreating opponent.
- Spinning side kick: the fighter rotates 180 degrees away from the opponent before extending the kicking leg. Adds rotational power but increases telegraph.
- Jumping or flying side kick: both feet leave the ground during delivery. Rare in MMA and rarely effective at the elite level.
- Oblique side kick: a downward-angled variant aimed at the lead knee. Covered in the section above.
Why side kicks are uncommon in MMA
For a strike that is older and more famous than almost any other in martial arts, the side kick is striking by its absence in a typical MMA fight. There are a few reasons.
The first is stance. The side kick generally requires a side stance position, so it is not often used in Muay Thai, where fighters stand in a more crouched, forward stance. Side kicks tend to show up when fighters come from karate, kickboxing, or taekwondo backgrounds. Modern MMA stances are usually squared up to defend the takedown, which makes the chamber and pivot of a side kick slower to set up.
The second is the takedown risk. Standing on one leg with the body turned sideways gives an opponent a clean opening for a single-leg or a takedown if the kick is caught or slipped. The third is training. Most MMA gyms teach kicking primarily through Muay Thai and kickboxing, so the side kick is not a core part of the curriculum unless a fighter brings it from another art.
Side kicks have nonetheless gained ground in the sport, largely thanks to the visibility of karate-influenced fighters at the top of the UFC.
Notable fighters who use the side kick
Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson is the clearest modern example. His karate background, alongside that of Lyoto Machida, helped popularise the side kick in modern MMA. Thompson throws the kick to the body, the lead leg, and occasionally the head.
Jon Jones is the other obvious name, though his version is the oblique variant aimed at the knee. His use of the kick has been a source of controversy for years, with fighters like Quinton Jackson and Stephen Thompson calling for the technique to be banned after suffering knee damage from it.
Other fighters who throw it with some regularity include Lyoto Machida and Michelle Waterson. Robert Whittaker and Darren Till both leaned on it in welterweight and middleweight bouts in recent UFC history. Outside the UFC, Cung Le built much of his Strikeforce striking around side and spinning side kicks from his sanshou background. Fabricio Werdum’s flying side kick attempt on Travis Browne at UFC on Fox 11 also lives in MMA memory, though more for its audacity than its effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the side kick legal in MMA?
Yes. The side kick and its oblique variant are legal under the Unified Rules of MMA and all major promotions, including the UFC.
What is the difference between a side kick and a teep?
A teep, or push kick, is thrown with the body squared up to the opponent and lands with the sole of the foot. A side kick is thrown with the body turned sideways and lands with the heel or blade of the foot.
Has anyone been knocked out with a side kick in MMA?
Side-kick knockouts are rare, but they happen, most often in the form of head-level side kicks from karate-style strikers or the oblique kick causing a knee finish. Khalil Rountree Jr. finished Modestas Bukauskas with an oblique kick at UFC Fight Night in 2021.
Why does the side kick look so different from a Muay Thai kick?
Because it comes from a different family of martial arts. Muay Thai uses circular kicks delivered with the shin from a squared stance. The side kick comes from karate and taekwondo, where the stance is more side-on, and the strike travels in a straight line.
Sources
- AWMA Blog. “5 Basic MMA Kicks.” Accessed May 2026.
- Evolve MMA. “5 Basic Kicks For MMA.” Accessed May 2026.
- ONE Championship. “7 Effective Kicks For MMA.” Accessed May 2026.
- Sidekick Boxing UK. “The Complete Guide To The Side Kick.” Accessed May 2026.
- Sportskeeda. “What is an oblique kick in MMA?” Accessed May 2026.
- Fighters Only Mag. “Stephen Thompson believes side kicks to the knee should be outlawed from MMA.” Accessed May 2026.
- MMA Mania. “Stephen Thompson wants to ban side kicks to the knee.” Accessed May 2026.
- Black Belt Wiki. “Side Kick.” Accessed May 2026.
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