The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) recently teamed up with UFC veteran Urijah Faber and seasoned referee Mike Beltran to demonstrate the upcoming MMA rule changes, which are set to take effect in fights starting November 1.
In July, the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) officially lifted the ban on twelve-to-six (12-6) elbow strikes, alongside revising the definition of a "grounded opponent" under the MMA Unified Rules.
In the video, Faber, alongside another fighter, demonstrated how the updated definition of a "downed" opponent affects the legality of kicks and knees to the head. Under the new Unified Rules, a fighter is considered grounded—and thus protected from head strikes by knees or kicks—when any part of their body, aside from their hands or feet, touches the mat.
Previously, a fighter was considered grounded if they had at least one hand on the mat, along with any other part of their body, and were also making contact with the floor.
Later in the clip, Beltran explained the changes to what were once considered illegal elbow strikes. Under the new rules, the 12-6 elbow strike is now permitted in fights. This move is defined as a "straight up, straight down" motion targeting a grounded opponent. It involves the fighter raising their arm to the 12 o'clock position and driving it down forcefully in a vertical line to the 6 o'clock position.
One of the most famous examples of a fight being stopped due to 12-6 elbows occurred during Jon Jones' bout with Matt Hamill on The Ultimate Fighter season 10 in December 2009.
In the final moments of round one, "Bones" unleashed the controversial strikes on Hamill, leading referee Steve Mazzagatti to step in and stop the fight. The disqualification resulted in what remains the only mark on Jones' otherwise unblemished record.
- Read More: Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Opposes 12-6 Elbows: ‘The Moment We Start Opening Those Rules…’