Soccer kick

[1] The technique is banned under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts; however, other rulesets, including the ones used by Pride Fighting Championships do permit them.

[1][5] Dr. Johnny Benjamin argued that soccer kicks could result in broken necks and paralysis if performed with the wrong positioning and high velocity.

[4] In 2000, the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts were written with the intention of making the sport of MMA appear more acceptable in a wider society.

[12] Opponents of soccer kicks argued that they needed to be banned in order for the sport of MMA to move forward.

[13][14] Although a soccer kick is a foul when delivered to the head in the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts which prevail in North America, the technique was commonly employed in Pride Fighting Championships in Japan.

[15] There are still MMA organizations such as Japanese-based Rizin Fighting Federation that allow soccer kicks to the head of downed opponent.

[16] ONE Fighting Championship previously had an "open attack" rule, which required fighters to get permission from the referee to use soccer kicks.

This included the soccer kick, which pro-wrestler CM Punk stated was the easiest tactic to use when a fan tried to get in the ring to confront a wrestler.

[18] High-profile users of soccer kicks as a finishing move includes Katsuyori Shibata,[19][20] and Randy Orton.