Upward Elbow

Last updated: May 25, 2026

What is an upward elbow?

The upward elbow is a close-range strike that travels from low to high, slicing up the centerline toward the opponent’s chin or face. In Muay Thai, where the technique originates, it is called Sok Ngad and is one of the sport’s foundational elbows. In MMA, fighters borrow it almost wholesale from the Thai system.

The strike exists for one reason: to get past a high guard. When an opponent shells up with both hands by the temples, horizontal punches and elbows get absorbed by the forearms. An elbow rising up the middle slips between the hands and arrives at the chin or the bridge of the nose. The bony point of the elbow makes contact rather than the padded knuckles of a glove, which is why the strike can split skin or break a nose even when partially blocked.

It is one of the four basic elbow angles used in MMA striking. The upward variant attacks from below, rising vertically toward the chin, while horizontal and downward variants come at the guard from different directions. That distinction matters: most striking exchanges happen at close range, and a fighter who can attack from multiple angles forces an opponent’s guard to defend in every direction at once.

How the upward elbow works

Power on the upward elbow comes from the ground rather than the arm. The striker drops slightly at the knees, then drives upward through the legs and hips, transferring momentum into the rising elbow. The hand of the striking arm finishes near the temple or the side of the head, which is why some coaches describe the motion as “combing your hair backward.”

Because the strike has limited reach, it lives in the clinch or in the pocket. Outside of grappling distance, the upward elbow cannot reach. According to Sweet Science of Fighting, a rear-hand upward elbow tends to carry more force than the lead-hand version, since the rear side generates more rotational power.

The elbow itself is one of the hardest bony surfaces on the human body, so the strike does not need to land flush to do damage. Even a glancing rear upward elbow that scrapes across the chin can open a cut, and a clean shot under the jaw is a recognized knockout finish in both Muay Thai and MMA.

Upward elbow vs. uppercut

The upward elbow and the boxing uppercut share an almost identical path through the air. Both rise vertically from a low position toward the opponent’s chin. The differences sit in range, surface, and use case.

Feature	Upward elbow	Uppercut (boxing)
Striking surface	Point of the elbow (bone)	Front of the gloved fist
Effective range	Clinch and pocket only	Pocket; possible from slightly outside
Primary target	Chin, nose, mid-face	Chin, solar plexus
Power source	Legs, hips, short arm extension	Legs, hips, full arm extension
Common context	Muay Thai clinch, MMA against the cage	Boxing, MMA at striking range

In the cage, an upward elbow tends to appear at moments where an uppercut would not fit, such as when fighters are chest-to-chest, when one is pressed against the fence, or when the opponent ducks low into a takedown attempt. The Dynamic Striking instructional site notes that fighters can also bait the strike by feigning takedowns; an opponent who bends forward to sprawl drops their head directly into the path of an upward elbow.

Upward elbow vs. 12-6 elbow

These two strikes are often confused because both travel on a vertical line. They run in opposite directions and have separate histories under the Unified Rules.

The 12-6 elbow, officially called the “downward elbow strike,” travels from straight up to straight down, from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock on an imaginary clock face. The upward elbow runs the opposite path, from roughly 6 to 12. According to Wikipedia’s entry on the 12-6 elbow, the downward version was banned under the Unified Rules from their adoption in 2000 until 1 November 2024, when the Association of Boxing Commissions voted to lift the ban. The upward elbow has been legal under the Unified Rules throughout.

The two strikes also occupy different positions on the cage. The 12-6 is most often used from the top in ground-and-pound, where a fighter on top can drop the point of the elbow on a downed opponent. The upward elbow is almost always thrown standing, from the clinch, or against the fence.

Variations of the upward elbow

Several named variants share the same upward path:

Sok Ngad. The standard Muay Thai uppercut elbow. The Thai term is used interchangeably with “upward elbow” or “uppercut elbow” across English-language striking instruction.

Reverse upward elbow (lawnmower elbow). Thrown with the lead arm hanging low, then exploded upward in a motion compared to pulling a lawnmower cord. Evolve Daily describes it as a rarely seen technique that can be devastating when executed properly, and it has produced highlight-reel knockouts in MMA over the years.

45-degree walk-in upward elbow. A clinch variant where the striker steps in at an angle while throwing the elbow up into the chin. Most often used from the inside clinch position.

Spear elbow. Closely related but distinct. The arm position resembles the upward elbow, but the elbow thrusts forward rather than upward, like a spear. It targets the same areas but functions more as a stopping strike against an advancing opponent.

Is the upward elbow legal in MMA?

Yes. All angled elbow strikes are legal under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. The 2019 Unified Rules text published by the Association of Boxing Commissions confirms that any elbow strike with an arc or any change of angle from straight vertical is a legal strike.

The only elbow that was ever specifically restricted under the Unified Rules was the 12-6 downward elbow, and that restriction was lifted on 1 November 2024. Earlier organizations, such as Pride FC, took a different approach and banned all elbow strikes to the head, which is why Pride bouts looked stylistically different from UFC and Bellator fights of the same era.

State athletic commissions adopt the Unified Rules individually, so minor variations exist between jurisdictions, but the upward elbow has never been restricted in any major MMA jurisdiction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the upward elbow the same as the uppercut elbow?

Yes. Both terms describe an identical vertical elbow strike that rises up the opponent’s centerline toward the chin. Sok Ngad is the Thai name for the same technique.

Where do upward elbows usually land?

The chin is the primary target, followed by the nose and the middle of the face. The strike rises up the opponent’s centerline, so anything along that vertical path is in range.

Is the upward elbow legal in the UFC?

Yes. The UFC operates under the Unified Rules of MMA, which permits all angled elbow strikes. Only the 12-6 downward elbow was ever restricted, and that ban was lifted in November 2024.

Can an upward elbow be thrown from the ground?

Rarely. The strike depends on driving up through the legs and hips, which is difficult to do from the bottom position. It is almost exclusively a standing technique used from the clinch or against the fence.

Why is it called Sok Ngad in Muay Thai?

Sok is the Thai word for elbow, and Ngad refers to the upward thrusting motion. The name describes the technique mechanically rather than naming a target or context.

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Sources

1. Association of Boxing Commissions. “Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.” 2019.
2. Wikipedia. “Elbow (strike).” Accessed May 2026.
3. Wikipedia. “12-6 elbow.” Accessed May 2026.
4. Evolve Daily. “10 Muay Thai Elbow Techniques To Add To Your Arsenal.” Accessed May 2026.
5. Evolve Daily. “How To Use Elbows To Improve Your Clinch Game For MMA.” Accessed May 2026.
6. Sweet Science of Fighting. “How To Throw Elbows (5 Deadly Muay Thai Techniques).” Accessed May 2026.
7. MMA Weekly. “Illegal elbow ban lifted for unified MMA rules.” 2024.
8. Dynamic Striking. “How To Do The Uppercut Elbow With Edson Barboza.” Accessed May 2026.

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