UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones loves 12-6 elbows, despite the technique being the reason he has a loss on his professional record.
The 12-6 elbow will be fair game as New York has adopted the new MMA Unified Rules, which allows the previously barred strike. Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) puts his UFC heavyweight title on the line against former champ Stipe Miocic in the main event at Madison Square Garden, and will have another tool at his disposal.
Jones was infamously disqualified in the first round without warning by referee Steve Mazzagatti in December 2009 for using multiple 12-6 elbows against Matt Hamill. “Bones” was otherwise dominating the fight up to that point. The DQ loss is the lone blemish on Jones’ professional record.
At UFC 309, everything will change as Jones revealed he has been preparing to unleash the now-legal technique against Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC)
“It just makes me wish that that disqualification was overturned,” Jones told Kevin Iole. “That’s the biggest feeling that I have once I learned that the rule is no more. On the other hand, I accept the move more than ever now, and I’ve been training extensively on different 12-6 elbow attacks.
“It’s funny because it’s been such a big no-no move, and so you train yourself not to go there. Now, to be able to use that strike – I mean, it’s a very devastating strike. It just opens up so many more options, both on the feet and in the top position. I’m excited to hopefully be one of the first UFC athletes to legally display it at Madison Square Garden.”
The 12-6 elbow ban was lifted by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports in July. UFC Fight Night 246 on Nov. 2 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, was the first event to implement the new MMA Unified Rules, and a couple of fighters took advantage.
Jones intends to ensure he can land a straight up-and-down elbow or two at UFC 309.
“In this next fight, I feel like I will be putting myself in some really great positions to land the technique, and I’m really looking forward to it,” Jones said.