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By Brett Okamoto, ESPN staff writer
The Boxing Commission and Martial Arts Association has officially scrapped one of the most unpopular rules in the sport of mixed martial arts.
ABC voted to remove the long-standing “12-6 Elbow” ban from its unified rules, effective November 1. The 12-6 Elbow is defined as a “straight above or below elbow strike” to an opponent on the ground. The rule is controversial because it gives referees a great deal of discretion in real time, and its value to fighter safety is up for debate.
Each state's athletic commission still needs to approve the change, but that's likely what will happen.
The 12-6 rule doesn't mean much, but it was the backdrop to one of the most controversial disqualification losses in MMA history: UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones' 2009 loss to Matt Hamill, Jones' only career loss. Jones overpowered Hamill and landed several elbows from full mount. Referee Steve Mazzagatti stopped the bout, ruling the elbows illegal.
Jones (27-1) appealed the result but was denied. The loss was controversial and the UFC tried to have the result overturned, but to no avail. Jones responded to the rules change on social media on Tuesday.
“Undefeated then, undefeated now,” Jones wrote on Instagram. “Dana White, you need to erase that loss from history.”
In addition to lifting the 12-6 ban, ABC redefined a “grounded opponent” in mixed martial arts as a fighter who has “any part of the body other than a limb” on the canvas.
