When Joe Rogan voiced support for Jon Jones' 2009 DQ loss to be overturned: "The 12-6 elbow rule is one of the dumbest rules"
Joe Rogan has been one of the biggest critics of the 12-6 elbow rule in MMA. A veteran UFC color commentator and podcast mogul, Rogan has consistently lent his support to UFC megastar Jon Jones who suffered a DQ (Disqualification) defeat due to the 12-6 elbow ban.
In accordance with the Unified Rules of MMA, the 12-6 elbow has been banned in the sport for the past several years. The world's premier MMA organization (UFC) and several other top organizations adhere to the Unified Rules of MMA. A 12-6 elbow is believed to be an elbow strike in a downward trajectory on an opponent, which is akin to a straight line between 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock on a clock.
In a light heavyweight bout at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale (Dec. 5, 2009), future UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Jon Jones appeared en route to a dominant stoppage win against Matt Hamill.
Nevertheless, referee Steve Mazzagatti intervened after 'Bones' seemingly landed 12-6 elbow strikes from the mount position on a downed Hamill, who was unable to continue. The verdict was a DQ victory for Hamill, which remains Jones' lone MMA loss.
In 2019, reports emerged that then-UFC president (now-UFC CEO and president) Dana White was attempting to get Jones' DQ defeat overturned with the help of the NSAC (Nevada State Athletic Commission). However, a 2023 report by Bloody Elbow noted that there were no records of White and the UFC approaching the NSAC to overturn Jones' loss.
For his part, Joe Rogan tweeted the BJPenn.com report in 2019 and voiced his support for Jon Jones. One of Rogan's tweets read:
"I'm in agreement with this 100%. The 12-6 elbow rule is one of the dumbest rules in combat sports. At the very least that fight should be a no contest. He was completely dominant."
Revisiting Joe Rogan's comments on the 12-6 elbow maneuver amid updates to MMA rules
A clip from the JRE (Joe Rogan Experience) podcast piqued fan interest last year, as Joe Rogan reiterated his disapproval of the 12-6 elbow ban in MMA. Speaking to BJJ savant Eddie Bravo, Rogan emphasized that the strike being deemed illegal was "the dumbest thing in the world."
Rogan called for the powers that be to reinstate the use of 12-6 elbows in MMA and suggested that UFC exec Jeff Novitzky hinted that the ban could be lifted soon.
Check out Rogan's comments below:
Joe Rogan's statements have rung true. The 'Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports Mixed Martial Arts Committee' officially unbanned the 12-6 elbows this month (July 2024).
Furthermore, a fighter must have a body part other than both hands and legs on the mat to be considered a 'grounded fighter' and deem their opponent's kicks and knees to the head as illegal strikes. Previously, most athletic commissions considered a fighter who had at least one hand on the mat as a grounded opponent.
The amended rules are expected to be implemented in MMA from Nov. 1, 2024. Intriguingly, in Jan. 2024, Helwani reported that CSAC (California State Athletic Commission) Executive Director Andy Foster was campaigning for the changes. As seen below, Helwani tweeted his appreciation for Foster after the official amendments to the Unified Rules of MMA this month.