Sherdog’s Top 10: Ghoulish MMA Moments

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3. Too Extreme

Most hardcore MMA fans enjoy a good, old-fashioned soccer kick to the head of a downed fighter. Yet, the maneuver is illegal in most jurisdictions and frowned upon by many organizations. Such was the case in pre-Zuffa World Extreme Cagefighting, where Mike Kyle thought it would be good idea to see how far he could bend the rules. As it turned out, he took a hatchet to them at WEC 20 on May 5, 2006 in Lemoore, California.

Kyle shrugged off Brian Olsen, who attempted to take his back during a scramble. Olsen then rolled to his knees, only to be blasted by a soccer kick to the face. He collapsed backwards unconscious, his legs pinned beneath him as Kyle drilled him with a right hand, even as referee Josh Rosenthal intervened. Kyle continued his attack on his defenseless opponent with Rosenthal still draped on him.

Olsen was taken to a hospital for treatment and returned to fighting seven months later. Kyle, meanwhile, was suspended and did not compete again for two years. When he was allowed back into the sport, Strikeforce welcomed him with open arms. Kyle has enjoyed a moderate amount of success since -- he captured the King of the Cage light heavyweight title in 2010 -- but will likely always be remembered for taking a dark turn at “Cinco de Mayhem.”

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