MMA committee to debate 12-6 elbows, instant replay next

The Association of Boxing Commissions' MMA rules and regulations committee is staying busy.

In a month's time, the committee will begin working on its proposals for next year's annual meeting. This year's summit was fruitful, with revised scoring criteria, a new foul to reduce eye pokes, and a tweaked definition of a grounded fighter all being passed. The new rules will be implemented in the new year.

According to MMA Fighting's Marc Raimondi, next year's docket will focus on removing the ban on 12-6 elbows and implementing the use of instant replay.

The nine-member committee voted to have the use of the elbows legalized this year, but their motion didn't make it past the ABC's medical committee. Compared to fouls like eye pokes and blows to the back of the head,12-6's are seldom seen, but they are responsible for Jon Jones' only career loss, a disqualification against Matt Hamill.

Former Bellator play-by-play man Sean Wheelock, who heads the committee, intends to collect data on their usage by calling for a temporary lifting of the ban in a handful of commissions. The findings would then be presented at next year's conference.

As for instant replay, the committee will have to make a case for when it would be used - say in the event of a banned strike or one thrown after the bell.

Other reforms on the agenda include overtime rounds for fights ending in a draw (the unified rules currently prohibit fights from exceeding 25 minutes) and unifying rules in the amateur circuit across every state.

Before any proposed changes can be voted on by the ABC body, they must gain the medical committee's blessing.