- Two rules changes could give Jon Jones a chance to overturn his DQ loss to a No Contest and make him undefeated
- “Bones” asked UFC president Dana White to work on it
An upcoming rule changes could remove the only loss on Jon Jones’ pro MMA record.
“Bones” could finally contest
MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reported that a set of rule changes regarding downward striking and a grounded fighter have been approved by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports Mixed Martial Arts Committee (ABC) on Tuesday.
The first change is the removal of the so-called “12 to 6” elbow rule which prohibited fighters from throwing straight downward elbow strikes to a grounded opponent. The other modification was the identification of a grounded fighter.
Finally, the 12 to 6 elbow rule has been eliminated and the grounded opponent rule has been changed.
Andy Foster does it again. pic.twitter.com/uEuY930Mlt
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 23, 2024
Previously, the rule states that, “To be grounded, the palm of one hand (a flat palm) must be down, and/or any other body part must be touching the fighting area floor. A single knee, arm, (not fingers) makes the fighter grounded without having to have any other body part in touch with the fighting area floor. At this time, kicks or knees to the head will not be allowed.”
That is no longer the case as the new rule states that “A fighter shall be considered grounded and may not be legally kneed or kicked to the head when any part of their body other than their hands or feet is in contact with the canvas (ground).”
That said, Helwani noted that the said changes could finally allow “Bones” to have his disqualification loss to Matt Hamill in 2009 overturned to a No Contest which would make him technically undefeated.
Worth noting, Jon Jones can appeal his 2009 loss to Matt Hamill to get it overturned into a no contest (not a win) but it *might* be too late since that was almost 15 years ago https://t.co/nLVVjdcrg7
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 23, 2024
However, Helwani also reported that the rule changes will be implemented across the board on Nov. 1, 2024 to give everybody ample time to familiarize it.
Jones’ take on the changes
Though Jones has one loss on his record, he has always felt as if he is unbeaten. In response to the rule changes, the reigning UFC heavyweight champion tapped Dana White to finally make it official.
“Undefeated then, undefeated now,” Jones wrote on Instagram. “@danawhite we gotta get that loss out of the history books.”
As it stands, Jones holds a pro MMA record of 27-1-1. He is set to face Stipe Miocic in his return but the UFC has yet to announce an official date yet.