 A soccer kick , also known as a soccer ball kick in puroresu and shoot fighting , is a reference to a kick that is similar to kicks used in association football . It is the colloquial term for a kick performed against a prone , kneeling , rising or supine opponent by a fighter who is in a standing or semi @-@ standing position , to any part of a downed opponent . The soccer kick was used in the first match of the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC 1 in 1993 . Gerard Gordeau defeated Teila Tuli with a soccer kick , which also knocked out one of Tuli 's teeth . 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 . Soccer kicks have been regularly discussed as to potential damage . There has been a regular debate on the usage of them within MMA . Some MMA fans and fighters support them while a fight doctor and politicians have opposed them . 
