Demetrious Johnson says he would ban heel hooks in MMA, and Josh Barnett disagrees
The former UFC and ONE champion, "Mighty Mouse" compared the rule to the protection of quarterbacks in American football. Barnett replied that a ban makes sense at amateur events, but not among professionals.
Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson, the former UFC and ONE flyweight champion, said that if it were up to him, the heel hook would be banned in MMA. He made the remark in a conversation with journalist Ariel Helwani, who posted clips of the interview on social media this week. The comment sparked a debate with another former UFC champion, Josh Barnett.
The subject started with the oblique kick, the strike with the sole of the foot against the opponent's knee. Johnson argued that the strike should be banned because it "can ruin somebody's career" and, in the same answer, added the heel hook to the list.
The American football comparison
To explain his reasoning, Johnson cited the NFL rule that penalizes players who hit the quarterback violently. According to him, the league does this so the player can have a long career, and MMA should think the same way about fighters' long-term health.
The former champion said he uses neither technique. "I don't do heel hooks and I don't do oblique kicks, because there's another way I can take you out," he said. He added that he does not like the heel hook and does not teach it. The armbar, in his view, is different, because the opponent has a chance to tap and give up before getting hurt.
Barnett's response
Josh Barnett, a former UFC heavyweight champion known for his submission game, replied on X. He partly agreed: at amateur events, he wrote, heel hooks and their variations could generally be banned for safety.
Among professionals, however, Barnett believes the technique should remain legal. His arguments, according to BJJDOC:
- Different mechanics: the oblique kick can drive the knee backward all at once, with no time to defend. The heel hook is tightened gradually, and the athlete and the referee can see the danger coming.
- Ankle first: the force is split between the ankle and the knee. "In many cases, the ankle likely is the first point of injury and very recoverable," he wrote.
- Personal choice: Barnett said he has no problem with Johnson avoiding the technique. For him, the mistake is turning a personal preference into a rule for the whole sport.
Barnett also noted that he learned from Matt Hume, whom he considers one of the best at the heel hook.
This is not the first time Johnson has spoken out against the technique. In 2025, he had already argued that heel hooks should be avoided in training because of the risk of serious injuries.
