by LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 8: A detailed view of the fight gloves during the UFC 290 event at T-Mobile … [+]
The UFC Edmonton card is interesting on several levels. Aside from the card pitting two former world champions (Brandon Moreno and Rose Namajunas) against serious title contenders (Amir Albazi and Erin Blanchfield), the event will be the first in UFC history to feature two new MMA rules come.
Here are the new rule changes that go into effect on November 2nd.
No more 12-6 elbow ban
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 5: (LR) Miranda Maverick elbows Shanna Young in the flyweight bout … [+]
Jon Jones has suffered defeat in his MMA career.
This came via disqualification when Jones destroyed Matt Hamill in December 2009. Jones was disqualified for hitting Hamill with a then-illegal 12-6 elbow. Luckily, this elbow is no longer banned. The rule was always strange, as it left it up to the referee to determine the trajectory of the downward elbow.
The rule was introduced to protect fighters from hitting the back of the head or spine with their elbow down. However, there are already rules that prevent blows to this area of the body. Removing the ban on 12-6 elbows could open up new defenses from the bottom position while defending takedowns.
It will be interesting to see which fighter wins the first fight in UFC history with legal 12-6 elbows.
It will be a painful and probably bloody moment in the history of the campaign.
New definition of a grounded opponent
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – AUGUST 20: (LR) Luis Saldana lands an illegal knee strike on Sean Woodson in one … [+]
Fighters cannot stop their opponents from taking a knee simply by placing a hand on the mat. A knocked down opponent is now defined as a fighter when any part of their body other than their hands or feet touches the mat.
Fighters must now move a knee or elbow downward to stop knees or kicks to the head.
This rule change makes it difficult to fend off an opponent’s attack by playing a game of cat and mouse while touching the mat with your hands to stop your knees. This rule has always confused me and has been heavily exploited for years.
It’s good for the sport to redefine the concept of the grounded opponent.
Here’s a look at the full card for UFC Fight Night Edmonton.
UFC Edmonton Main Card on ESPN+ (7:00 p.m. ET)
- Men’s Flyweight: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi
- Women’s Flyweight: Rose Namajunas vs. Erin Blanchfield
- Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis vs. Jhonata Diniz
- Light heavyweight: Caio Machado vs. Brendson Ribeiro
- Middleweight: Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
- Welterweight: Mike Malott vs. Trevin Giles
UFC Edmonton “Prelims” card on ESPN+ (4 p.m. ET)
- Bantamweight: Aiemann Zahabi vs. Pedro Munhoz
- Women’s flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Ariane Lipski
- Featherweight: Charles Jourdain vs. Victor Henry
- Featherweight: Jack Shore vs. Youssef Zalal
- Heavyweight: Alexandr Romanov vs. Rodrigo Nascimento
- Bantamweight: Serhiy Sidey vs. Garrett Armfield
- Bantamweight: Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson
- Women’s flyweight: Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrovic
Look out for fight week coverage, which includes a preview and post-event recap.
