The PFL has lifted its ban on elbow strikes for the 2025 season, aligning with other major MMA promotions, after previously prohibiting them to minimize cuts and maintain fighter availability.
Guess what? The PFL’s got elbows now!
On Monday, PFL chairman Donn Davis dropped the news. Elbow strikes, once banned, are making a comeback in the league.
New Year … New Adjustments
YOU asked for ELBOWS@PFLMMA is giving you elbows!All elbows. All fights. All the time. #PFLMMA 2025 … COMING
— Donn Davis (@DonnDavisPFL)
“New Year, new adjustments,” Davis tweeted. “You asked for elbows, [PFL] is giving you elbows! All elbows. All fights. All the time. [PFL MMA 2025]… coming.”
Previously, elbows were a no-go in PFL due to its season and playoff style. They wanted to avoid cuts that might sideline fighters during crucial matches.
But hey, will the season-playoff format stick around in 2025? The PFL hasn’t spilled the beans yet.
This shift aligns PFL with other big names in MMA, where elbows are fair game both standing and on the ground.
No events for PFL in 2025 have been announced yet. But Bellator, under PFL’s wing, kicks off on Jan. 25 in Dubai with Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes.