ABC Approves Rule Changes for 12-to-6 Elbows, Definition of a Grounded Fighter

Lastly, the 12 to six elbow rule has been
eradicated and the grounded opponent rule has been modified.

Andy Foster does it once more. pic.twitter.com/uEuY930Mlt

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani)
July 23, 2024

The Unified Guidelines of Combined Martial Arts will change in a pair key
areas this November.

On Tuesday, the Affiliation of Boxing Commissions and Combative
Sports activities voted unanimously to remove a ban on 12-to-6 elbows and
replace the definition of what constitutes a grounded fighter. The
committee included the likes of California State Athletic
Fee govt director Andy Foster, Nevada Athletic
Fee govt director Jeff Mullen, veteran officers Herb
Dean, John McCarthy and Marc Goddard and judges Derek Cleary and
Sal D’Amato, amongst others. Ariel Helwani was first to report the
adjustments on social media.

The downward elbows have been typically some extent of confusion for fighters
as a result of it might be troublesome to find out that actual angle from
which these strikes have been being thrown. The rule because it was
beforehand outlined is as follows:

Using a linear “straight up straight down” elbow strike is
prohibited. Any variation of this straight up and down linear elbow
strike makes the strike authorized. Any arc, or any angle change from
straight as much as straight down makes the strike authorized. Any variation
of place doesn’t alter the legality of the strike.

Now that ban might be eradicated from the Unified Guidelines. Essentially the most
outstanding instance of the 12-to-6 rule taking impact occurred at
“The Final Fighter 10” Finale on Dec. 5, 2009, when Jon Jones
suffered a disqualification loss to Matt Hamill for touchdown what
have been decided to be unlawful downward elbows. It was a combat that
Jones was properly on his method to successful, and it stays the one
official loss on his file to this present day.

“Undefeated then, undefeated now,” he wrote. [Dana White], we gotta
get that loss out of the historical past books.”

The definition of a grounded fighter rule has additionally been a supply of
confusion lately, with fighters typically making an attempt to play a
harmful recreation by inserting their palms on the canvas to keep away from being
kneed or kicked. The brand new rule is as follows:

A fighter shall be thought-about grounded and will not be legally
kneed or kicked to the top when any a part of their physique aside from
their palms or toes is in touch with the canvas (floor).

Examine that to the previous model of the rule:

Any a part of the physique, different sole of the toes touching the
preventing space ground. To be grounded, the palm of 1 hand (a flat
palm) have to be down, and/or some other physique half have to be touching the
preventing space ground. A single knee, arm, (not fingers) makes the
fighter grounded with out having to have some other physique half in
contact with the preventing space ground. Presently, kicks or knees to
the top won’t be allowed.

Now, a fighter will need to have a knee or elbow on the canvas to be
thought-about down. If solely their palms are on the mat, kicks and
knees might be allowed.

The adjustments to the foundations received’t formally go into impact till Nov.
1. This can enable for referees and physicians to endure coaching
to arrange for the adjustments and can enable fighters to adapt to the
new guidelines. Moreover, particular person athletic commissions could have
to vote to approve the brand new guidelines.