Douglas Lima, Jeremy Stephens and Colby Covington have few things in common. They fight at different weight classes. They stand at different heights. They even train in different states. Yet all three fighters could be viewed as poster boys for the effective use of a quickly growing offensive technique: the calf kick. It is an old-school attack that has gone viral in the sport, as it debilitates unsuspecting opponents and often decides the outcomes of fights.
A calf kick’s effectiveness is subtle and can vary. Similar to a body punch, it serves as “money in the bank,” where the rewards can be withdrawn early or later.