Donn Davis announces elbows now legal in all PFL fights going forward

The PFL now has elbows.

On Monday, PFL chairman Donn Davis announced the league will now allow elbow strikes after the technique was previously banned in previous seasons.

“New Year, new adjustments,” Davis wrote on Twitter. “You asked for elbows, [PFL] is giving you elbows! All elbows. All fights. All the time. [PFL MMA 2025]... coming.”

In the past, elbows were banned in PFL contests due to the league’s season and playoff format. The decision was made to minimize cuts, which could risk fighter availability for their two regular season contests or the postseason should they qualify.

It’s important to note that PFL has not officially announced that the season-playoff format will continue in 2025.

The change puts PFL in line with every other major MMA promotion, all of which allow the use of elbows on the ground and in the standup.

No PFL events are currently scheduled for 2025, though Bellator—which is owned by PFL—is set for its first show of the year on Jab. 25 in Dubai, headlined by lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov defending against Paul Hughes.