Look Back: Shogun Rua Was a Savage With the Soccer Kicks

In the current unified rules followed by the UFC, there is a fighter safety rule that prohibits kicks to the head of a downed opponent - I understand why the rule exists, though it's hard not to desire moments from those old PRIDE rules. There were some fighters able to use soccer kicks to punish opponents - or finish the fight - and no one can be mentioned before we talk about former Brazilian champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. 

Many fighters tended to throw soccer kicks rather wildly when the opportunity arose, but Shogun had a methodical, almost clinical approach to the strike. During his prime, he trained at the famed Chute Boxe Academy in Curitiba, Brazil.

The gym was known for developing absolute MMA monsters, including Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva, a former PRIDE and UFC champion also known for his knees, soccer kicks, and stomps to grounded opponents back in PRIDE. As part of their Vale Tudo-style fight teachings in the academy, they honed an intense, pressure-heavy style that led to knees, stomps, and soccer kicks.

Impressively, for Shogun, it often wasn't just one or two strikes; rather, he chained them together with ground strikes and stomps, overwhelming opponents like Akihiro Gono and Hiromitsu Kanehara. There are old training videos of Shogun Rua and his brother, Murilo "Ninja" Rua, training various techniques specifically to set up transitions leading to successful soccer kicks. 

I particularly like one simple yet deceptive side control technique from their tool belt. 

The person in side mount doesn't even need to wait for the opponent to escape, with Shogun electing to provide the free space. The person on his back turtles out, flips over onto his knees, while the person in top control stands up while maintaining head control. By posting behind the opponent's neck through the scramble, they are in perfect position to begin launching head kicks.

It's this level of attention to detail that highlights great care in their craft - and excitement to drill these techniques in their training camps.

Not surprisingly, you can find some examples on YouTube. Here is something I found in Shorts, aptly named "Shogun Rua Playing Soccer in PRIDE FC." Enjoy!

I absolutely loved the way Shogun fought, especially when he was in PRIDE - where the rules allowed for maximum devastation - and before his body betrayed him.