Daniel Cormier explains disdain for 12-6 elbow rule change in MMA: "Ultimately we’ll get back to soccer kicks"

Daniel Cormier has expressed strong disapproval of the recent decision to lift the ban on 12-to-6 elbow strikes in MMA. The controversial move, set to take effect in November, has reignited debate about the sport's rules and regulations.

Cormier, a respected analyst and former champion, believes the return of 12-to-6 elbows will inevitably lead to the reintroduction of even more dangerous techniques, such as soccer kicks. He argued that the sport should prioritize safety and avoid resembling street fights.

Appearing in a recent episode of Funky and the Champ with Ben Askren, 'DC' shared his thoughts on the matter, stating:

“I don’t like that. I don’t like 12-to-6 elbows, and I don’t like soccer kicks. Here’s my thought: when I was fighting Rumble Johnson, you couldn’t [move the elbows straight down]. But you could do it with an arch, so I was able to cut Rumble with an arching elbow, but it came straight down…"

He added:

“I just don’t want anything that makes fighting look like a street fight, that’s it. John McCain, before he passed, was against fighting because it was “human cockfighting”. They would show these videos of gang fights, people running around, and people on the ground. It starts to look like that again, and that’s not good man. The moment we start opening those rules again, it’s gonna be more and more and more, and ultimately we’ll get back to soccer kicks.”[H/t: BJPenn]

Check out Daniel Cormier's comment below:

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Daniel Cormier doubts Conor McGregor- Khabib Nurmagomedov feud will end

The rivalry between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov shows no signs of cooling down even though it has been almost six years since their infamous UFC 229 clash. Following McGregor's latest social media outburst targeting Nurmagomedov, former UFC champion Daniel Cormier weighed in on the possibility of the two burying the hatchet.

Cormier, who is close to Nurmagomedov, believes the animosity between the two fighters runs deep. While suggesting a potential path to reconciliation, he remains skeptical about its likelihood:

"He just hates Khabib. He hates him... They are not letting it go. It's deep-rooted, but it's deep-rooted on both sides, honestly... [Khabib] doesn't like this guy, bro. They don't like each other. This is crazy. It really is. It's deep. It's very deep, but I think the closest thing you would get to a resolution in that is, again, Conor beating [Michael Chandler] and then earning a championship fight against Islam Makhachev, right?"

'DC' added:

"Then Khabib could probably try to find some comfort in that and Conor could try to actually find redemption in trying to beat the guy that became the guy, right? So, there's stories there. I don't know that it happens because Michael Chandler can't seem to get a date."

Check out Daniel Cormier's comments below (12:03 mark):