Hey guys let’s try to figure out who really started the “Calf Kick”. Since it changed the game. @joerogan always gives Ben Henderson credit but it has been brought to my attention that I did it a year before against Lamas.

Apr 17, 2026 · 8:11 PM UTC

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Replying to @CubSwanson @ELaw32 @joerogan
Always thought it was Arona.
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Ok, against who?
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
Hi Cub...all Respect to your great career. Marlon Sandro in Bellator was likely 1st. I did the first vids on calf kick combos & 3 defenses to it in 2012 as well as articles on ProMMANow.com which noted your use (also credited u w Overhand to Dip High kick in my vids).
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My fight with Ricardo Lamas was in 2011. That was the first time I used them
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Replying to @CubSwanson @Rico_Suave256 @joerogan
I KNEW IT
🌴ᴛʜᴇᴀʀᴛᴏꜰᴡᴀʀ🌴
@TheArtOfWar6
23 Jul 2021
Cub Swanson was calf kicking before everyone
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
Great question. It’s true that you did it to me before Henderson, but I did it the fight before I fought you against Matt Grice. But, I wasn’t the first to do it in MMA, my training partner @luisbaboon was the first to use it in MMA
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
It depends if the question is 'who threw the first calf kick' or 'who first used the calf kick consistently'. I don't know the answer btw.
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Replying to @CubSwanson @Rico_Suave256 @joerogan
1000% it was you
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
Mortal Kombat did it first.
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
Actually cub my great great grandfather Charles legkickem invented it against atilla the hun
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
Hi Cub! Congrats on your retirement, you looked awesome last weekend! I'm sure the calf kick was executed thousands of years ago at some point. I think the question we should be asking is: Who is the first fighter to use the calf kick as a main pathway to victory?
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
forrest griffin did it by accident (kind of) against rampage
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Replying to @CubSwanson @ELaw32 @joerogan
Forrest did it to Rampage too…think it’s gonna be hard to really find out who did it first…even Ricardo Arona would throw it pretty low on the leg during Pride.
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Replying to @CubSwanson
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
People forget man. Cub Swanson invented the calf kick.
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
You can’t claim to be the father of the calf kick then get TKO’d by Jonathan Martinez via calf kicks 🤨
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
Bendo used to utilize the thigh punch on occasion also.
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
Watched that fight the other day and was laughing about how much it was confusing Rogan. Give it a few years Joe it’s gonna be your favorite thing ever lol
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Replying to @CubSwanson @43toeknee @joerogan
MMA supporters 👀
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
@grok who is credited with the first ever “calf kick” in MMA history?
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
It doesn’t matter who started it. 10/20 years down the line, joe will still be on commentary talking about how the calf kick is this new, revolutionary weapon in mma.
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
It’s been making Joe rock hard since it became a thing.
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Replying to @CubSwanson @KendaPerez @joerogan
I’ve seen Muay Thai fighters use it, even back in Samart’s days. There’s not much footage of his fights but I have seen him use it as a counter when catching his opponents kicks. I’m sure they used it in general when kicking, but that’s the first instance that comes to mind.
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
"Hey are they still allowed to wear those steel cups?"
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
You can see ken shamrock do it against bas rutten
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
I always thought Marco Ruas never gets enough credit (Varelans fight) in… I think it was UFC 6 or 7
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
Wilson Gouveia is the name I remember hearing.
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
I've been calf kicking for way longer than you have, Cub. Stupid fucking baby cows.
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
It definitely wasn't an MMA fighter that started it. Either Muay Thai or kickboxing
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
Marco Ruas was hitting that against Varelans I’m pretty sure
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
Pedro Rizzo?
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Replying to @CubSwanson @KendaPerez @joerogan
Congratulations on your retirement and great career! You’ve made all of the Palm Springs area very proud!! 🙏🏽
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Replying to @CubSwanson @joerogan
Etymologically, we must see that a "calf kicker" has the same root as a "cow puncher," so we must be looking for a cowboy of some kind. We must pore over the collected violence-oeuvres of both Cerrone and Oliveira. :)
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