Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) recently legalized 12-6 elbows, bringing an end to the longstanding ban on one of the most effective (and most controversial) offensive weapons in all of mixed martial arts (MMA).
That said, it’s up to each individual athletic commission to adopt the change.
New Jersey State Athletic Control Board (NJSACB) has yet to put the new rules into effect, which means those athletes fighting at UFC 316 on Sat. night (June 7, 2025) inside Prudential Center in Newark will be unable to strike with 12-6 elbows.
It would appear the unified rules of MMA are not unified after all.
That could have a big impact on combatants like Merab Dvalishvili and Kayla Harrison, among others, who are predominantly ground fighters. Not surprisingly, fans on social media blasted the “incompetent” regulators for sitting on their hands.
The rule change went into effect last fall in both New York and Las Vegas.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 316 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ preliminary card matches at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the UFC 316 PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 316: “Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 316 fight card and PPV lineup click here.
