UFC Vegas 100, The Morning After: 12-6 Elbows Arrive Violently

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At the start of this month, the not-so-unified unified rules of mixed martial arts (MMA) underwent a serious change. Two significant rules were modified: the definition of a grounded fighter was rewritten (sorry Aljamain Sterling), and 12-6 elbows were legalized.

Two UFC events later, and the consequences are becoming more clear.

Already, we’ve seen fighters forced to drop to a knee rather than play the fingers on the mat game, which really changes how fighters defend takedowns and work back to their feet. Last week, however, there were no significant 12-6 elbows, though there was an attempt or two.

Last night, UFC Vegas 100 changed that.

On the main card alone, in fact, there were multiple instances of 12-6 elbows landing. Previously, the assumption was that they would be useful from mount, as in Jon Jones vs. Matt Hamill all those years ago. Canada’s premier UFC fighter, Gillian Robertson, found some more creative openings, however.

Not only did Robinson throw these downward elbows from half-guard, but she used them to tenderize her opponent’s legs (and other more sensitive areas), while Luana Pinheiro tried to invert. Generally, that’s a position that’s difficult to do damage, but 12-6 elbows generate enough force that a few clean ones to the hamstring are going to be felt in the following round.

“Hit her with the Jon Jones!,” Robertson’s corner called.

The Robertson elbows were a fun footnote and nice bit of creativity, but they didn’t influence the fight to a significant degree. One fight later, Gaston Bolanos drastically shifted the momentum of his fight versus the debuting Cortavious Romious with 12-6 elbows.

Once again, they came from an unusual position as well, seemingly innovated on the fly by “Dreamkiller.”

The scorecards ended wide, but Bolanos vs. Romious was competitive and hard-fought. Bolanos won most of the first round on the strength of his Muay Thai expertise and powerful kicks, but Romious shook things up with a last-second knockdown. The newcomer continued to surge into the second, controlling most of the first three minutes from back control and threatening the choke multiple times.

Bolanos found an avenue to escape in pressing back into Romious and sliding away. As Romious clung with both hands to what remained of his back control, Bolanos realized this his opponent’s face was unprotected. Controlling his foe’s grip with one hand to keep that target open, Bolanos loaded up and delivered three cracking 12-6 elbows directly to the forward.

He basically treated Romious’ forehead like a wooden beam in a karate dojo!

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Those shots were powerful, and they allowed Bolanos to scramble his way into top position against a stunned opponent. He landed even more elbows (of the regular variety) and stole back the round. His momentum carried him through the third too, where a fatigued and wounded Romious couldn’t do much besides hold on. The sequence above was a definitive turning point, one that sealed the win in Bolanos’ favor.

It’s so fascinating that these elbows were legalized and are now making an impact right before “Bones” returns at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden versus Stipe Miocic this upcoming weekend (Sat., Nov. 16, 2024). Elbows have always been a Jones signature, a devastating weapon able to destroy faces because of his unique frame. Simultaneously, creativity is also a pillar of Jones’ greatness, and 12-6 elbows are really rewarding the opportunistic.

It feels like an especially dangerous time to fight Jones.

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For complete UFC Vegas 100 results and play-by-play click HERE.