One of the things that has changed with MMA is the quality of the kicking many fighters are exhibiting now. You are seeing more slide action kicking being employed with they using their front leg and throwing sidekicks and even sometimes now hook kicks and even some ax kicks now on occasion. Some are even using the ball of the foot when throwing roundhouse kicks to the body and face and head rather than the shin instep that most only used before.
Does an ax kick have a place in fighting in MMA. I think so to the face at least but a fighter has to be more careful when throwing a kick like this because they are so much more vulnerable in some ways to their opponent than when throwing some other types of kicks. I would not use or rely on kicks like this at the beginning of a round or beginning of a fight when my opponent is fresher and lighter on his feet and can react more quickly. Instead I would throw it at the end of a round with the idea of impressing the judges more as to who was the more effective striker. Then my opponent would not have much time if he caught me throwing it with which to do damage or maybe get me in a more vulnerable position after taking me down. That or throwing it when my opponent was more tired and retreating more in a fight. Those would be better times to use and rely on something like this because with your leg and foot up in the air like that you are so much more vulnerable in a number of ways. Otherwise there are better choices a fighter can make I think like when it’s early in the fight or the beginning or middle of a round to throw than an axe kick.
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