ABC lifts ban on 12-6 elbows from MMA Unified Rules

A controversial strike has gained acceptance in mixed martial arts as the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports on Tuesday lifted the ban on 12-6 elbows from the MMA Unified Rules.

California State Athletic Commission executive officer Andy Foster told MMA Junkie that an ABC rules committee voted unanimously to lift the ban, which had been in place since the MMA Unified Rules were created in 2000.

A 12-6 elbow had been defined in the MMA Unified Rules as a “straight up straight down elbow strike” to a grounded opponent.

Foster said the lift on the 12-6 elbows ban won’t go into effect until November 1, at which time individual state athletic commissions could choose to implement them.

Jon Jones notoriously brought the only loss of his career upon himself after he was disqualified for landing several 12-6 elbows on Matt Hamill in December 2009 at the The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale. Jones was dominating Hamill through 4:14 of the first round and close to a finish when Steve Mazzagatti stepped in to stop the fight.

In the immediate aftermath, Jones appealed to the Nevada Athletic Commission, which chose not to hear his argument. In recent years, Jones has said he wishes the fight could be overturned, a sentiment that both UFC CEO Dana White and UFC commentator Joe Rogan agree with.

Jones reiterated that wish Tuesday on Instagram and tagged White in his post.