Explains why calf kicks are so effective in mixed martial arts

The calf kick is a technique that hasn't been used in UFC for very long. Longtime UFC fans may remember a fighter like Benson Henderson first using it, while newer fans will remember Jeremy Stephens crushing Gilbert Melendez's lead leg at UFC 215.

Long before the UFC took over, leg kicks from Muay Thai fighters in Thailand evolved in Brazil and eventually made their way to every MMA gym in the world. But the emphasis was on attacking the opponent's thighs, above the knee. When fighters began to realize how devastating kicks below the knee could be, the game changed.

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Why are calf kicks so effective?

The medical reasons behind it

The reason kicks to the calf are so devastating in combat is because there's a nerve called the peroneal nerve on the outside of the leg, just below the knee. The peroneal nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve. According to Mount Sinai, the peroneal nerve provides movement and sensation to the lower leg, foot, and toes.

Many people experience peroneal nerve dysfunction when sitting with their legs crossed or when they spend too much time on the toilet, which can cause a condition known as “foot drop” and loss of feeling in the legs.

The peroneal nerve is vulnerable to injury because it has no muscle or bone to protect it. It is very close to the surface of the skin behind the knee, so a kick can cause devastating damage. Think of it as the liver of the leg. When the liver is hit, many fighters experience debilitating pain and shut down.

Another reason calf kicks are so effective is that the muscle and body part is so small – there's nowhere for the swelling to escape and nothing to protect it from. Even if the nerve isn't completely damaged, the swelling can grow quickly and the nerves around the peroneal muscle will still be affected.

This type of damage affects many different types of fighters: evasive strikers will have a hard time moving around the Octagon, fighters who put their weight on their front foot to pressure will be hurt badly and won't be able to put enough power into their shots, and even wrestlers will lose the explosiveness they need to go for a takedown.

A perfect example of the effectiveness of calf kicks

Seriously injured fighters

A big talking point in early 2024 was the comparative durability of Sean O'Malley and Marlon “Tito” Vera going into the bantamweight title bout, the main event of UFC 299. In their first bout of 2021, Vera defeated O'Malley via first-round TKO via kick to the calf.

O'Malley sustained a damaged peroneal nerve from a kick in the first round, then dropped and twisted his ankle multiple times, a major setback in his path to a title shot and a major blow to the hype surrounding him.

In the rematch, O'Malley used calf kicks from long range as an effective weapon against a mostly flat-footed Tito Vera. If a fighter can damage his opponent's base and affect the way he moves and fights on his feet, it can change the entire night for that fighter.

Another memorable performance that may have started the technique trend was the win between Jeremy Stephens and Gilbert Melendez at UFC 215. Stephens dominated the bout, landing 32 of his 35 leg kicks, most of which were to Melendez's calf.

This fight was brutal to watch, and while the peroneal nerve was not completely severed, it clearly affected how Melendez fought that night, as he had a large hematoma in his shin and was unable to put much weight on his leading leg.

Calf kicks in modern mixed martial arts

What is the current state of calf kicks?

The calf kick has become the most talked about and most used technique in the UFC. It seems like every fighter uses it as a jab now. It can be landed from a distance and can cause damage without much risk or physical strain.

Top strikers such as Sean O'Malley, Justin Gaethje and Israel Adesanya have mastered the art of using this weapon to control the distance and pace of a fight, with Gaethje being one of the few fighters to use it as a complete game-changing strike, capable of shutting down an opponent within the opening seconds of a bout if he's not careful.

Alex Pereira is another rising superstar currently taking the UFC by storm, and his calf kicks are a newer evolution of that technique. He can land powerful low kicks with precision and without warning.

His recent KO of Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 was a direct result of his routinely landing kicks to the calf. He saw Prochazka try to block a low kick and landed a beautiful switch kick to the head, ending the fight instantly.

It's amazing to see how quickly the sport has evolved despite being so new. In just 15 years, strategies, skills and techniques have changed dramatically.

What if great Muay Thai fighters with incredible kicking power and durability like Jose Aldo, Edson Barboza and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone had discovered just how effective these calf kicks could be 10 years ago? They are the best leg kickers in UFC history, but they focused primarily on landing above the knee, where their big muscles and defenses are.

UFC continues to evolve and sooner or later new techniques will emerge and become new trends for future UFC champions to perfect. What's next?

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