Jon Jones will be able to use the previously banned 12-to-6 elbow move in his upcoming fight against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, as the New York State Athletic Commission has adopted new MMA rules eliminating this strike as a foul, effective November 1.
Jon Jones, a name synonymous with dominance in the octagon, is set to return against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on November 16 in New York. Intriguingly, he’ll be able to use the move that once cost him his only career loss. How’s that for a plot twist?
On Thursday, the New York State Athletic Commission confirmed some exciting news. Starting November 1, new MMA rules approved by the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) will take effect. These changes were actually given the green light back in September.
“The New York State Athletic Commission will adhere to the Unified Rules for MMA at UFC 309,” stated officials. This was part of a bulletin issued on September 5, 2024. A bit of future referencing there!
While the ABC defines these Unified MMA Rules, each athletic commission must approve them before they become official. It’s like getting everyone on board for a big surprise party, but with more paperwork.
Two specific rule changes stand out. First, the notorious 12-to-6 elbow strike is no longer a foul. Second, there’s a fresh definition for what constitutes a grounded fighter.
The infamous 12-to-6 elbow—imagine a clock hand moving from noon to six—is what got Jones disqualified in a fight against Matt Hamill back in 2009. Despite dominating, those elbows led to his only blemish when Hamill couldn’t continue.
That disqualification still stands as Jones’ sole loss on an otherwise spotless record. Quite the sting, isn’t it?
Now onto the second rule change: defining a grounded fighter and when head strikes are allowed. Here’s the scoop:
“A fighter shall be considered grounded and may not be legally kneed or kicked to the head when any part of their body other than their hands or feet is in contact with the canvas.”
In simpler terms, if an elbow or knee touches down along with hands and feet, they’re safe from certain strikes. Otherwise? Watch out!
This definition has evolved over time, causing confusion where updates weren’t adopted consistently. Imagine trying to play Monopoly with different house rules—chaos!
For UFC 309 in New York, fighters will abide by these new rules regarding grounded opponents and those controversial elbows.
The event promises fireworks with Jones vs. Miocic headlining and Michael Chandler making his much-anticipated return against Charles Oliveira in the co-main event. Buckle up!