Why Anthony Pettis and Tony Hawk are forever linked and 5 short term byproducts of "The Kick"

Anthony Pettis’ groundbreaking, MMA earthshaking, scale the cage head kick on Thursday night has sent the sport and its followers into a frenzy.  Justifiably.  Do you remember the first time you saw Tony Hawk complete the original 900 at the 1996 X-Games?  It was simply revolutionary!  Vert skate boarding was never the same after that day. Likewise, never before, on a national stage, have we seen a fighter incorporate the cage as a tool to invent a new way of attacking the opponent.  Pettis’ – run up the side of the cage to gain height and leverage to launch a kick – will have lasting ramifications.  It is just too early to figure out how soon other fighters will start to use the cage as an offensive tool.

One thing is clear … Pettis’ kick has already changed how fighters and trainers will now THINK about what is possible.  We cannot undue what Pettis did.  How we think about what is possible has changed.  Oh … and for the record, most top skaters now attempt the 900 in their showcase vert runs.

In the short term, some things will likely change quickly for Pettis and his coach, Duke Roufus, for the better.  Here are five short term byproducts form the kick heard round the world.

1. I imagine Dana White and the folks who make the UFC video game will rush to get Pettis and that ‘made for gamers’ kick into the next update as soon as possible.  Too bad Pettis can’t get a copyright on that kick somehow.  1-800 lawyer may be worth a try, just in case.

2. Duke Roufus’ gym in Milwaukee will explode.  Roufus had a good team going before this kick with Pettis, Pat Barry, Alan Belcher, Eric Koch, Danny Downes, and Matt Mitrione (part-time).  But, it is likely he will be flooded with locals looking to chum up to the new local MMA stars as well as serious UFC level fighters looking to improve their standup.

3. Copycat moves.  Look for more web videos from regional and small MMA organizations with young fighters looking to pull off similar kicks in hopes of creating some buzz and hype for their burgeoning careers.  Remember when Brian Leonard (Bengals) was as fullback at Rutgers six years ago and started hurdling on coming safeties.  It was Brian Leonard that really started that move and now we see it every weekend in the pros and college football.

4. Pettis will see a heavy dose of ground fighting in his next fight regardless of whether he faces Frankie Edgar or Gray Maynard.  Now, Pettis is fantastic as well on his back, but I think he has stamped his style as a feared standup/kick boxer and nobody wants to be on the end of one of these brain busters.

5. Pettis opponents seeking the center of the cage.  This kick needs Pettis’ opponent to be floating near the side wall of the cage for it to work.  Now, as Pettis moves to the UFC and the larger Octagon, opponents will likely find it easier to stay away from such damage by keeping relatively centered and away from the edges allowing Pettis to conjure up and pull off such a kick.

One thing is clear.  There is now a whole new component to MMA fighting, at least when Anthony Pettis is fighting.  How far and how soon will “The Kick” change the sport?  I don’t know, but it will be fun watch it unfold.

Thoughts all.  How will “The Kick” change MMA?

@john_moody