Jon Jones Warns Stipe Miocic He’ll Use 12-6 Elbow at UFC 309 – MMA – Sports

Jon Jones will defend his UFC heavyweight title on Saturday when he faces Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, looking to capitalize on the 12-6 elbow drop that handed him the only loss of his career. Since the UFC changed its rulebook to allow the strike starting Nov. 1, Jones has requested that his 2009 disqualification be overturned.

On Saturday, Jones will be able to pull off the one move that has haunted him throughout his entire UFC career. Considered one of the great UFC fighters, Jones is 27-1 overall in MMA but 21-6 in the UFC after making his debut in August 2008.

On December 5, 2009, Jones was disqualified against Matt Hamill for using the 12-6 elbow strike and saw his first loss on his record. Jones has been undefeated in the UFC for almost 15 years since that incident, but after it was re-legalized he wants his record updated.

“I just wish that disqualification would be overturned,” Jones told Kevin Iole. “That’s the biggest feeling I have when I heard that the rule no longer exists.”

But now that Jones can use it, he has convinced Miocic that he has trained hard to perfect it. “On the other hand, I accept the move now more than ever, and I have trained extensively on several 12-6 elbow strikes,” Jones added.

“It’s funny because it was such a big no-no move, and so you train yourself not to go there. Now, to be able to use that attack – I mean, it’s a very devastating attack. It opens up just so many more options, both on the feet and in the top position.

“I’m excited to hopefully be one of the first UFC athletes to legally exhibit it at Madison Square Garden.” The 12-6 elbow ban was overturned by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports in July and was deemed legal for the first time in the Octagon earlier this month.

The strike was authorized for UFC Fight Night 246 in Edmonton, Canada on November 2 and was applied without major consequences. Jones wants to be the first because it has bothered him for almost fifteen years, and the champion believes Miocic is the perfect opponent to use it on.

“In this next fight I feel like I’m going to put myself in some great positions to gain the technique, and I’m really looking forward to it,” Jones said. Despite Jones being the dominant force in the UFC for over a generation, Miocic is a highly respected challenger.

Miocic is 20-4 in MMA and a former heavyweight champion, but has not fought inside the cage since March 27, 2021. His last fight was against Francis Ngannou, which ended in a second-round knockout.