Question: are elbow strikes allowed in ufc?
Answer: Under the unified rules of MMA elbows are legal as long as they are not to the back of the head, spine or groin and can't be thrown in a “12 to 6” angle, which means thrown vertically or straight down. In most Japanese promotions, PRIDE or Rizin, elbows to the head are illegal as they cause cuts and can stop the fight.