Jon Jones drops major update about training previously illegal move ahead of UFC 309 fight against Stipe Miocic: "It's a very devastating strike"

Jon Jones recently shared his thoughts on the 12-6 elbow strikes being legalized and revealed that he's been training to effectively deploy the previously illegal move. Jones is set to face Stipe Miocic in a heavyweight title fight at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York later this month.

While the 12-6 elbow strikes were illegal under the unified rules of MMA for a long time, the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combat Sports officially reversed the ban earlier this year. The 12-6 elbow is usually defined as a "straight up, straight down elbow strike" to a grounded opponent. Jones notably suffered a DQ loss against Matt Hamill in December 2009 due to this rule.

During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Jones admitted that he wished his DQ loss was overturned and revealed he's been training to use the 12-6 elbow strike against Miocic now that it's legal to do so. He said:

"It just makes me wish that disqualification was overturned. That's the biggest feeling that I had when I learned that the rule is no more... On the other hand, I accept the move more than ever now. I have been training extensively on different 12-6 elbow attacks... You train yourself not to go there and now to be able to use that strike... I mean, it's a very devastating strike... I'm excited to, hopefully, be one of the first UFC athletes to legally display it."

---

Jon Jones explains why Alex Pereira makes more sense than Tom Aspinall

Jon Jones recently opened up about his future career moves and detailed why Alex Pereira made more sense as an opponent than Tom Aspinall. Ahead of UFC 309, Jones hinted at potentially retiring from the sport after facing Stipe Miocic.

While many have called for Jones to give interim heavyweight champion Aspinall his title unification shot, 'Bones' has been dismissive in his response. In the same interview with Kevin Iole, Jones explained why he'd not keen on the Aspinall fight after UFC 309 and why Pereira piqued his interest. He said:

"I feel like Tom Aspinall is, I don’t want to say nobody, but he just hasn’t proven anything. He hasn’t done anything... If there were to be a fight of a guy that’s still on our UFC roster that would be not only financially worth it, but legacy worth it, it would be Alex Pereira... I think that fight would go much farther on my legacy than a young man who’s cool today, and may be gone tomorrow."