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Shogun Rua demolished fellow UFC legend Rampage Jackson with technique considered illegal in today’s MMA

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Curtis Calhoun | Last updated Apr 23, 2025 4:40 PM ET

Former UFC light heavyweight champions Shogun Rua and Rampage Jackson had an epic war in PRIDE on this day 20 years ago.

As the UFC began to gain some momentum in the mid-2000s, PRIDE was the home for Mixed Martial Arts competition. Before becoming legends in the UFC Octagon, Shogun Rua and Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson were considered superheroes in the PRIDE ring.

In the lone time they squared off in their combat sports careers, Rua and Jackson clashed in the opening round of the 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix. The tournament featured top names such as Ricardo Arona, Alistair Overeem, and Antônio Rogério Nogueira.

PRIDE didn’t abide by the modern unified rules of MMA, and Rua made the most of some unorthodox techniques against Jackson.

Shogun Rua stopped Rampage Jackson with soccer kicks before both became UFC champs

Rua and Jackson didn’t take long to get after it in the opening round of their 2005 clash. But Rua didn’t need long to stifle Jackson, pressing forward and landing some heavy shots on Jackson against the ropes.

Rua earned an early knockdown on Jackson before Jackson was able to get back up to his feet with about a minute left in the first round. But Rua didn’t let Jackson off the hook, landing some brutal knees in the clinch and forcing Jackson down to the canvas.

Rua proceeded to land several soccer kick strikes that finished the action, leading to the Brazilian legend advancing to the next round of the tournament. Two years later, Rua and Jackson made their way to the UFC after Zuffa purchased the promotion.

Luckily, Jackson was able to bounce back from the Rua loss with six consecutive wins after the fight. In his second UFC appearance at UFC 71, Jackson knocked out Chuck Liddell to become the UFC’s light heavyweight champion.

Soccer Kicks! ⚽️ #OnThisDay in 2005: Shogun Rua vs Rampage Jackson ended in this brutal KO

Watch in full on @UFCFightPass pic.twitter.com/BvC2jH2Xot

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) April 23, 2025

Rampage Jackson’s fighting return against former UFC rival axed

Jackson was supposed to return to fighting in a boxing match against former UFC foe Rashad Evans this summer, but the fight was recently canceled. Jackson and Evans had one of the most heated rivalries in UFC history.

Rua entered the UFC Hall of Fame last year after a career that included a UFC light heavyweight championship. His reign came to an end courtesy of Jon Jones, who became the UFC’s youngest-ever titleholder.

Rua’s planned MMA comeback in the now-defunct Global Fight League was recently canceled. Rua was supposed to face Yoel Romero in a light heavyweight matchup.

Rua’s soccer kicks wouldn’t’ve been legal in the UFC if he competed in the Octagon at the time of the Jackson fight. But before embarking on a legendary UFC career, Rua made the most of one of MMA’s most controversial techniques.