Does Pereira have the best low kicking game in UFC history?

[aogiri]

Pereira gives no tell on his kicks to the point where Izzy couldn't even react in time to start moving his shin to check, and Izzy said post fight that he was super prepared for them and it still caught him by surprise. Def not Gaethje. Charles was able to lift his leg over most of them because he doesn't set them up well enough and they are pretty much the only type of kick he goes for so they're easier to anticipate.

 

[flektarn]

Pereira kicks hard AND checks them. He's legit. I like the power Gaethje puts on his but when he whiffs'em, whew.

 

[IloveTHIS]

Have Gaethje's low kicks actually stiffled any of the elite-level guys that he fought?

Alex was getting to Izzy and hurting him with calf kicks in both of their MMA fights. Outside of Jan checking Izzy's kicks, nobody else has had that kind of success against him in MMA.

Eddie was like 1 or 2 kicks away from not being able to stay standing

 

[NoSmilez]

It's not Alex. His style isn't the cleanest in terms of kickboxing. He sacrifices power for more speed/accuracy. He doesn't really turn his hip but it lands. If you watch his old kickboxing fights. He doesn't really check low kicks either. Vakhitov chewed his legs up in their fight. You can also see it in the fights where he won by KO against low kick specialists.

Aldo is probably cleanest in terms of technique and ability to use it in a combo. That is like the best version of Aldo in terms of kicking but he didn't kick much later in his career. Justin uses it quite effectively too. He is really simple but it works for him. He throws the low kick while moving his head away from the center.

 

[Mal Intentions]

Gaethje

Gaethje

Gaethje

 

[Todd498]

What about Pedro Rizzo?

 

[PabloBassquez]

Damn got me, you're right.

In my defense, I was thinking mainly of the ones that did the 90°+ wrap around the opponents leg thing, but I def missed an opportunity lol

 

[StonedLemur]

It’s between him, Aldo and Gaethje imo, and then you narrow it down to Poatan and Gaethje. Hell before the last two fights, Israel had a strong argument for the best leg kicker. I’ve seen Adesanya win title fights just from destroying opponents legs - he did it to Costa. Pereira was able to beat Israel at his own game and for me that elevates him to the best we’ve ever seen at least in the octagon

Forgot about Pedro Rizzo and Marco Ruas sir.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Gaetjhe throws them at ridiculous ranges. Gets a clinch and will throw multiple low kicks.

Pereira is more skilled with them.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

What about Pedro Rizzo?

More focused on targeting the thigh. Not sure if TS is trying to distinguish between calf kicks or just leg kicks in general

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Prime Bendo needs some recognition

 

[StonedLemur]

Corey Hill
Anderson Silva
Chris Weidman

Brutal lol

 

[StonedLemur]

Have Gaethje's low kicks actually stiffled any of the elite-level guys that he fought?

Alex was getting to Izzy and hurting him with calf kicks in both of their MMA fights. Outside of Jan checking Izzy's kicks, nobody else has had that kind of success against him in MMA.

Id say yes sir.

 

[Skarsgard]

Does anyone in the UFC have more leg kick stoppages than Barboza?

 

[Skarsgard]

Pereira always hits with the shin too, never the foot. People hear the slap sound and think that's a hard leg kick but it's actually the thudding sound you want to hear for.

I once had an opportunity to do "light contact" sparring with a professional fighter/kickboxer. Not once did he touch my head, but that's probably the worst bruising I've had to my legs ever.

 

[Marko Polo]

Forgot about Pedro Rizzo and Marco Ruas sir.

Theyre good mentions for sure

 

[StonedLemur]

Theyre good mentions for sure

Some of my favorites.
Another poster mentioned Maurice Smith as well.

 

[Marko Polo]

No love for Barboza?






Best switch quick kick in mma, ever…..

Barbozas legs got mangled by Gaethje

 

[BruhBruh]

Aldo and Barboza both better with low kicks IMO. Poatan and Gaethje are very good with them, Gaethje probably more impressive due to his MA background being wrestling.

Aldo obviously stopped using them as he got older but in his prime he was #1 with low kicks and it wasn't even close.

 

[BruhBruh]

Mo Smith or Pedro Rizzo.

Honorable mentions:
Marco Ruas
Brandon Vera
Shogun Rua
Thiago Alves
Alan Belcher

Shoguns leg kicks vs Machida were especially nasty. Lyoto could barely walk by the end, so impressive considering how hard it was for Machida to be hit.