The illegality of the 12-to-6 downward elbow is one of the most hotly contested items in the Unified Rules of mixed martial arts — a ban that many in the business, and perhaps most, feel is unnecessary.
But the rule is in fact in the books, and it’s the referee’s job to enforce infractions.
Such was the case on Saturday night, when Eddie Alvarez threw an illegal elbow in the second round of his UFC on FOX 30 main event against Dustin Poirier in Calgary, Alberta. Referee Marc Goddard ordered a standup due to the infraction, after which Poirier rebounded and scored a TKO victory.