Jon Jones has a history with 12-6 elbows, and he plans to add them to his repertoire now that they’re legal.
The UFC heavyweight champion said Thursday he’s looking forward to using the downward elbow – a strike that was recently legalized under the Unified Rules of MMA – in his title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden.
“I’ve been training extensively on different 12-6 elbow attacks,” Jones told MMA reporter Kevin Iole. “It’s funny because it’s been such a big no-no move, so you train yourself not to go there. And now to be able to use that strike – I mean, it’s a very devastating strike, and it just opens up so many more options, both on the feet and in top position.
“I’m excited to hopefully be one of the first UFC athletes to legally display it at Madison Square Garden.”
Jones was infamously disqualified in a 2009 bout against Matt Hamill for using 12-6 elbows, and that remains his only career loss. The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports lifted the ban on 12-6 elbows in July, and last weekend’s UFC Edmonton was the first event to implement the new rule set.
UFC CEO Dana White – among many others in the MMA world – has long argued that Jones’ disqualification loss should be overturned. Jones said that was his own major takeaway when he found out 12-6 elbows were now allowed.
“It just makes me wish that that disqualification was overturned,” Jones said. “That’s the biggest feeling that I had once I learned that that rule is no more.”
Jones is scheduled to return to the Octagon for the first time since March 2023 when he beat Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title. The 37-year-old will take on Miocic, a former two-time champion and the greatest heavyweight in UFC history, in what could be both of their final fights before retirement.
Jones is a heavy betting favorite against Miocic and believes he’ll set himself up well to apply some 12-6 elbows in the fight.
“I feel like I’ll be putting myself in some really great positions to land the technique,” Jones said. “And I’m really looking forward to it.”
