Tag: unified mma rules

UFC Legend Urijah Faber Displays 12-6 Elbow Changes in the Unified MMA Rules

Legend Urijah Faber Displays 12-6 Elbow Changes in the Unified MMA RulesMMA legend Urijah Faber and tenured UFC referee Mike Beltran teamed up with the California State Athletic Commission to…

Legend Urijah Faber Displays 12-6 Elbow Changes in the Unified MMA Rules

MMA legend Urijah Faber and tenured UFC referee Mike Beltran teamed up with the California State Athletic Commission to address the impending change to the longstanding 12-to-6 elbow rule.

In July, the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports voted unanimously to lift the ban on 12-to-6 elbows in addition to redefining what it means to be a “grounded opponent” under the Unified Rules of MMA.

UFC

In the video, which you can see below, Faber and another fighter explain what will constitute a grounded opponent once the new rules go into effect on November 1.

Under the new rule set, a fighter is considered grounded 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 explains the change to the 12-to-6 elbow rule which will now allow fighters to raise their arm in a 12 o’clock position and drive it straight down into the 6 o’clock position.

Jon Jones wants dQ loss scrubbed from his uFC record

12-to-6 elbows are not terribly common in mixed martial arts, but there is one well-known example of a fight being controversially stopped due to the striking maneuver.

Competing against Matt Hamill during the Ultimate Fighter finale in 2009, Jon Jones was dominating the bout and dropping a series of elbows from the mount. In the closing moments of the opening round, referee Steve Mazzagatti brought a stop to the bout after ‘Bones’ dropped the illegal elbows on his opponent. Jones was disqualified, handing him the only blemish on his otherwise spotless record.

UFC

Reacting to the rule change earlier this year, Jones suggested that his DQ loss against Hamill be overturned.

“Undefeated then, undefeated now… Dana White we gotta get that loss out of the history books,” Jones wrote on Instagram.

Hamill, on the other hand, had a different suggestion.

UFC

CSAC Release Video Featuring Urijah Faber On New MMA Rules From November 1st

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) […]

Continue Reading CSAC Release Video Featuring Urijah Faber On New MMA Rules From November 1st at MMA News.

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.

Continue Reading CSAC Release Video Featuring Urijah Faber On New MMA Rules From November 1st at MMA News.

Confusion Leads To Both MMA Rulesets Being Used At UFC 220

With athletic commissions adopting the new rule set across the country, there’s going to be some confusion amongst fighters and referees as everyone adjusts to the new rules. However, when a commission uses two different rule sets in the same night, that’s bound to cause some issues. And at UFC 220 in Boston, those issues […]

The post Confusion Leads To Both MMA Rulesets Being Used At UFC 220 appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

With athletic commissions adopting the new rule set across the country, there’s going to be some confusion amongst fighters and referees as everyone adjusts to the new rules.

However, when a commission uses two different rule sets in the same night, that’s bound to cause some issues. And at UFC 220 in Boston, those issues were on full display.

Sources told MMA Fighting that the early prelims used the new rule set while the later prelims used the older rule set.

UFC fighter Kyle Bochniak found that out the hard way during his preliminary bout against Brandon Davis:

“The ref comes in and says the athletic commission has changed it back to the old rules. And I’m like, ‘Whoa whoa whoa, what’s the old rules again?’”

“I was gonna throw a kick [during the fight], but I held it. I pulled back, because it looked like he was in transition of getting back up and I didn’t want a foul. Just because these rules, you don’t know anymore. I couldn’t remember what rules were in.”

Massachusetts, where UFC 220 took place, has been using the new modified rules since January 2017, but since this was the first UFC event in Boston since the new rules, apparently there was some confusion as to what rules to enforce.

Referees backstage allegedly overheard Joe Rogan saying that Massachusetts hadn’t adopted the new rules, they asked Marc Ratner about it, who said in an email that the old rule set would be used.

Some fighters were told the old rules would be in place, while others were told the new rules would according to Gian Villante and Alexander Pendoja, two fighters who fought on the UFC 220 card.

What does the UFC need to do to avoid this confusion in the future?

The post Confusion Leads To Both MMA Rulesets Being Used At UFC 220 appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

ABC Approves Changes For MMA Scoring, Eye Pokes & Grounded Fighters

The unified rules of MMA certainly did a great job of making the sport somewhat ‘safer’ for fighters, but did leave a number of grey areas that were open to discussion. The term ‘grounded fighter’ has led to much debate, with many combatants exposing the fact that they needed to only have one hand touching […]

The post ABC Approves Changes For MMA Scoring, Eye Pokes & Grounded Fighters appeared first on LowKick MMA.

The unified rules of MMA certainly did a great job of making the sport somewhat ‘safer’ for fighters, but did leave a number of grey areas that were open to discussion. The term ‘grounded fighter’ has led to much debate, with many combatants exposing the fact that they needed to only have one hand touching the canvas in order to avoid kicks or knees to the head. Quite a frustrating rule, but perhaps the least in terms of influence of a fight’s outcome.

We’ve seen quite a few fights ended in no-contest or disqualification due to knees and kicks to the head of grounded fighters. This area of fighting under the unified rules, as well as eye pokes and the criteria for scoring fights were all under the microscope this week as the ABC (Association of Boxing Commissions) approved a number of definite rule changes.

27xRS[1]
Say goodbye to eye pokes, hopefully…

There had been some controversy over eye pokes, so the ABC ruled that even holding out the hand with fingers extended in standing position is now to be considered a foul. Also the scoring criteria now has definite descriptions of how to score rounds 10-9, 10-8 or 10-7. Damage, octagon control and effective striking have all been explained fully. We can also wave goodbye to female tank top in the octagon, as the ABC rules that only short sleeve rash guards are now acceptable.

As quoted by MMAFghting.com:

Grounded fighter

A grounded fighter is defined as: Any part of the body, other than a single hand and feet touching the fighting area floor. To be grounded, both hands and feet, palm/fist down, and/or any other body part must be touching the fighting area floor. At this time, kicks or knees to the head will not be allowed.

Extended fingers

In the standing position, a fighter that moves their arm(s) toward their opponent with an open hand, fingers pointing at the opponent’s face/eyes, will be a foul. Referees are to prevent this dangerous behavior by communicating clearly to fighters. Fighters are directed to close their fists or point their fingers straight in the air when reaching toward their opponent.

Female clothing

Female competitors must wear a short-sleeved (above the elbow) or sleeveless form-fitting rash guard and/or sports bra. No loose-fitting tops are allowed. Female competitors will follow the same requirements for bottom coverings as the male competitors, minus the requirement for groin protection.

Proposed MMA judging criteria by Luke Thomas on Scribd

The post ABC Approves Changes For MMA Scoring, Eye Pokes & Grounded Fighters appeared first on LowKick MMA.