From November 1 this year, the UFC will finally do away with a rule that Joe Rogan has dubbed, “…the dumbest f***ing ever rule in MMA.” The ban on 12-6 elbows which is responsible for the only blemish on Jon Jones’s record is reported to be on its way out after the ABC (Association of Boxing Commissions) decided to make the change.

At the recent UFC 305 media day, Israel Adesanya was on-board with the proposed changes but he highlighted that there’s more that needs to be done. According to ‘The Last Stylebender’ the rule changes are a step in the right direction. But, there also needs to be a conversation about how fights are judged as they are a major reason behind fighters losing out on crucial win bonuses!

Israel Adesanya demands judging be adjusted for UFC fights in the future

When the topic of the 12-6 elbow changes were brought up in-front of Israel Adesanya at the media day, the former middleweight champion was enthusiastic about the update as he exclaimed, “12-6 elbows, finally, Jesus Christ…”

The reporter asking the questions also asked Adesanya to share his thoughts on the rule changes about the definition of a grounded opponent and inquired whether he was “happy with these changes” or not. ‘The Last Stylebender’ responded by stating, “Yeah, definitely, I think it’s about time. That, but then also the judging as well has to change.”

The former champion indicated that while he is at a stage in his career that win bonuses don’t matter to him, other UFC fighters often find themselves losing income due to judging decisions. This isn’t the first time Adesanya has brought up this issue. Last year, after his teammate Kai Kara-France lost a controversial decision to Amir Albazi at UFC Vegas 74, Adesanya blasted the decision on his YouTube channel as he stated, “They rob you of your moment. They rob you not just of your money but the moment.”

He echoed the same sentiments at the media day as he went on to state, ”Could be 10 thousand, 20-25 thousand, away from them because a judge decided, oh, you weren’t moving forward enough even though they were blasting the other guy in the face with kicks and punches, you know.”

Ultimately, Israel Adesanya indicated that while the rule changes are “good for the game”, these decisions need to be made quicker and the changes implemented faster to avoid fighters having to deal with controversial decisions and other set-backs. But according to a former ‘champ-champ, the lifting of the ban on 12-6 elbows isn’t something he is entirely sure about!

Daniel Cormier warns 12-6 elbow rule removal may lead to a slippery slope for UFC

The 12-6 elbow, a move where the elbow is brought down in a straight line from a high position, has long been banned due to its perceived brutality. In a recent conversation with Ben Askren on ‘Funky and the Champ’, Daniel Cormier candidly confessed that he isn’t thrilled about this new rule change that will allow the move to be used inside the Octagon from November 1.

Why is Cormier worried about the rule change? The former ‘champ-champ’ explained that, “I just don’t want anything that makes fighting look like a street fight, that’s it. [Senator] John McCain, before he passed, was against [MMA] fighting because he said, ‘It’s human cockfighting’.” The UFC veteran’s concerns aren’t just about the elbows but about the broader implications. Cormier believes that, “…I think the moment we start opening those rules again, then it’s going to be more and more and more, and ultimately, we’ll get back to soccer kicks.”

Fans of PRIDE FC will remember the havoc Wanderlei Silva would wreak on his opponents as the promotion allowed soccer kicks to downed opponents. As such, Cormier’s comments do bring up an interesting point. The UFC may be evolving, but as Cormier warns, that evolution shouldn’t come at the cost of the sport’s integrity. What are your thoughts on the rule changes coming into play from November 1? And do you agree with Israel Adesanya’s demands for better judging in the sport? Let us know in the comments below!