UFC 316 will operate under a slightly different rule set on Saturday night.
A bantamweight title rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley will headline when MMA’s premier promotion returns to Newark, New Jersey this weekend.
The event location means that a different commission will oversee the latest UFC pay-per-view show.
It’s now been revealed that the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board won’t use the unified rules of MMA.
UFC 316 rule change bans 12-to-6 elbows
Foot stomps were bizarrely barred when a last-minute rule change hit UFC 315 in May.
This time around, the commission has simply reverted to the rules that were in place before November 2024, which saw 12-to-6 elbows legalized alongside a change to the definition of a grounded fighter.
“For UFC 316, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board have NOT adopted the unified rules of MMA, combat sports journalist Aaron Bronsteter tweeted on Friday.
“Fighters with one hand or two hands on the mat will be considered grounded opponents and 12-to-6 elbows will be illegal.”
Fans react to UFC 316 rule change
Unhappy UFC fans were quick to voice their opinions underneath Bronsteter’s X post.
“What lmao how does that make sense,” one fan asked. While another called the move: “Utter woke nonsense.”
“Sigh,” a third dejected X user commented.
“Not ideal,” someone else said.
“Doesn’t make sense how there’s different rules for each state. Doesn’t happen in any other sports,” one confused person wrote.
“This has to be a joke,” a sixth fan fumed.