The UFC Edmonton card back in November introduced new changes to the rules of the world’s largest MMA promotion. “The 12-to-6 elbow is now legal [from] tomorrow, and the grounded fighter rule, where you put one hand down on the ground, that’s gone… You can’t do that anymore, and 12-to-6 is legal [at] tomorrow night’s Fight Night,” Dana White reported on the eve of the show.
The 12-6 elbow rule change gives the green light for fighters to stretch their arms up and elbow a fallen opponent. This added another weapon to the fighters’ arsenal and made fights more dangerous and bloody. This news definitely would’ve made several fans and fighters delighted since it allows a new move to be used. However, it seems like Daniel Cormier is not a big fan of it.
Speaking on the Funky and the Champ, ‘DC’ shared his unfiltered thoughts on the move being unbanned by the UFC. The former UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion claimed that this move will only make the sport look a lot more like a street fight inside the Octagon.
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Something that had been troublesome in the past for the sport, as it had been termed human cockfighting by several US politicians. Cormier said, “I just don’t want anything that makes fighting look like a street fight.”
Poll of the day
Poll 1 of 5
Do you agree with Daniel Cormier that the UFC's rule changes make the sport resemble a street fight?
Yes, it's too dangerous
No, it's more exciting
It's part of the sport's evolution
Not sure
Has Conor McGregor lost his edge in combat sports?
Yes, he's past his prime
No, he can still make a comeback
It's too early to tell
He should retire
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Is Islam Makhachev's preparation for UFC 311 compromised without Khabib Nurmagomedov in his training camp?
Yes, Khabib's presence is crucial
No, Makhachev can handle it
It might be a blessing in disguise
Not sure
Is Conor McGregor's move to promote a BKFC event in Italy a masterstroke or a distraction from his fighting career?
Masterstroke, he's a genius
Distraction, he should focus on fighting
Both, he's balancing well
Neither, it's irrelevant
Is Jon Jones avoiding a fight with Tom Aspinall, or is Aspinall just trying too hard?
Jones is ducking Aspinall
Aspinall is overreacting
It's all mind games
They both need to fight already
Want to dive deeper?
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It should be noted that in 2009 Jon Jones was disqualified for hitting Matt Hamill with such an elbow, which was illegal at the time. This gave ‘Bones’ the only loss in his MMA career. The ban on 12-6 elbows was implemented to protect wrestlers from receiving downward elbows to the back of the head or spine, but there are already rules that prevent blows in that area of the body.
Another major change that was brought in the UFC
The removal of the ban on the 12-6 elbows wasn’t the only rule that the UFC head honcho Dana White decided to get rid of. The rule of the opponent on the ground or in three points of support has now been changed from the previous one. Why? Well, that’s because it was considered quite unfair. Previously, a wrestler who had at least one hand on the mat was considered “on the ground” and therefore could not be hit with knees or kicks to the head.
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However, according to the new rule introduced, a UFC fighter will now have to have at least one knee or elbow touching the ground to be considered on the ground. Both rules date back to the first version of the “Unified Rules of MMA,” which dates back to the 2000s. This change is permanent and will apply to all UFC fights in the future, as explained by Dana White himself.
So it looks like the UFC boss is now trying to turn a sport into a much more hardcore version of itself as it had been in the past. However, there definitely would be more fighters like Daniel Cormier who would prefer the much safer and more disciplined version of the sport. But what do you think? Do you believe the UFC made the right move by removing the ban? Let us know in the comments.
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Is the UFC's new 12-6 elbow rule a step forward or a return to street brawling?
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