The world of mixed martial arts (MMA) is no stranger to controversy, and one of the most discussed topics is the ’12-6 corner’ rule This rule, which prohibits strikes from straight up and down elbows played a key role in Jon Jones’ only loss in The Ultimate Fighter Finals, Jones was disqualified due to this rule despite dominating the fight against Matt Hamill. But the story of the 12-6 corner rule goes deeper than most fans might realize.
12-6 Origin of Cohn’s Law
The 12-6 elbow rule was first introduced to the MMA world during the IFC 13 tournament on September 30, 2000. The fight in question is Gun McGee and Brad Gabriel who are 6’11” tall and heavyweight about 335 pounds and McGee at 6’1”. Weighing between 210 and 215 pounds and considerably heavier than Gabriel, the size difference was obvious, and played a role in the development of the fight.
Big John McCarthy, a renowned referee in MMA, discussed this rule change in a 2018 episode of ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’. McCarthy described the event that led to the 12-6 corner rule. He described how McGee used his enormous size and strength to deliver powerful fists directly to Gabriel’s head. McCarthy said, “He brings it down straight over Brad Gabriel’s head and then he gets behind him and does the same thing as the old Brazilian-style boom-shot to the back of the head. And he said, ‘That can’t be me. I’ve seen such huge ice breaks. That’s a terrible angle. We can’t have that.’”
This led to a rule change, with corner kicks banned 12-6 due to concerns about serious injury. The decision was not without controversy, and McCarthy himself saw the new rules as somewhat problematic. He noted, “That 12-6 front is the whole thing and the whole thing, 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock. But when I’m in lateral control and I bring my hands, we’re fine.”
UFC in-ring commentator and comedian Joe Rogan has been vocal about his thoughts on the 12-6 elbow rule. Rogan expressed reservations about the bill, believing it to be ineffective and unnecessarily restrictive. His stance reflects widespread sentiment among some MMA enthusiasts who see the rules as overly technical and not particularly useful in preventing injuries.
UFC President Dana White has also shared his excitement at the impact the 12-6 elbow rule has had on Jon Jones’ career. In a 2019 interview, White criticized the decision to disqualify Jones. White described the disqualification as a mistake saying, “With one loss on his record, we’re trying to get [the building]… It was the worst commission in Nevada history and the referee who again said he wouldn’t fight is also present and he, too, who has been nominated to deserve Jon, . That shouldn’t have happened either.” White’s frustration reflects how it has affected fighters and their careers, especially when it leads to controversial decisions.
The Evolution of the Rule
Modifications have been made to the 12-6 elbow rule, which was formerly a contentious issue. Now that the 12-6 elbow strike has been approved by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports, the sport’s perspective on this specific move has changed. The modified regulation acknowledges that the rule may not have been as successful in preventing injuries as first believed, which attempts to address some of the complaints that have been directed at it.
