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, and will be able to capitalize on the 12-6 elbow offense that saw him suffer the only loss of his career. Since the UFC changed its rulebook to now allow the strike starting Nov. 1, Jones has requested that his 2009 suspension be overturned.

On Saturday, Jones will be able to pull off the one move that has dogged him throughout his 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 back in August 2008.

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

“It just makes me wish that disqualification was overturned,” Jones shared Kevin Iole. “It’s the greatest feeling I have when I’ve learned that the rule is no more.”

But now that Jones is able to use it, he has warmed to Miocic that he has been training a lot to perfect it. “On the other hand, I accept the move more than ever now and I’ve been training a lot on different 12-6 elbow strikes,” Jones added.

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

“I’m excited to hopefully be one of the first UFC athletes to legitimately show it in 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 in the Octagon for the first time earlier this month.

The attack was allowed at UFC Fight Night 246 in Edmonton, Canada on November 2 and was used without much impact. Jones will be the first as it has bothered him for nearly 15 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 really good positions to land 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 contender.

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.