TLDR
- Paddy Pimblett, Max Holloway, and Gable Steveson had their UFC 329 purses withheld for climbing the cage after their wins
- The Nevada State Athletic Commission scheduled disciplinary hearings for August 26 to determine potential fines
- Michael Bisping called the rule “utterly ridiculous” and said the commission is trying to get money from fighters
- Daniel Cormier also criticized the rule, calling it one of the most unreasonable in MMA
- Bisping may have accidentally revealed Pimblett’s next fight against Charles Oliveira for the BMF title in November
Sources: timesofindia.indiatimes.com | givemesport.com | bjpenn.com
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has criticized the Nevada State Athletic Commission for withholding fight purses from three UFC 329 winners over their post-fight celebrations.
Paddy Pimblett, Max Holloway, and Gable Steveson all had their pay withheld after climbing or jumping over the cage fence following their victories at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas.
The NSAC scheduled disciplinary hearings for all three fighters on August 26 to determine whether they will face fines or continued withholding of their purses.
Pimblett’s Quick Win Leads to Controversy
Pimblett submitted Benoit Saint Denis in just 52 seconds at UFC 329, earning a Performance of the Night bonus. After the victory, the Liverpool fighter climbed over the Octagon fence during his celebration.
The Nevada commission has a rule against scaling or climbing over the cage after fights. Holloway celebrated after Conor McGregor suffered a knee injury in their bout, while Steveson climbed the cage after stopping Elisha Ellison in his UFC debut.
🚨𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡: Michael Bisping is furious over 🏴Paddy Pimblett’s purse potentially being withheld after celebrating by jumping on the Octagon cage. 😡🤯
🗣️“It all goes back to when Paddy beat Benoît Saint Denis. What did he do? He celebrated. He jumped on the cage like a lot… pic.twitter.com/Di7mu9yTkS
— FightLuck (@FightluckBet) August 24, 2026
Bisping addressed the situation on his YouTube channel, calling the rule “utterly ridiculous.” He questioned why fighters should face financial penalties for emotional celebrations after major wins.
“It all goes back to when Paddy beat Benoit St. Denis. What did he do? He celebrated. He jumped on the cage as a lot of fighters do,” Bisping said. “They’re also under investigation and could have their purses withheld or potentially are going to be fined thousands of dollars. This is utterly ridiculous. I hate this rule.”
Bisping pointed out that boxers regularly climb the ropes after victories without facing similar consequences. He also revealed that he climbed the cage himself after winning the UFC middleweight title at UFC 199 in California without being penalized.
“Boxers jump on the ropes all the time. But MMA fighters jump on the cage and suddenly they get fined or have their purses withheld,” Bisping said. “It’s nonsense. It’s a crime. It’s the athletic commissions trying to get a few bucks for themselves. This rule needs to be changed.”
Other UFC Voices Join Criticism
Daniel Cormier, another former UFC champion and current commentator, also spoke against the Nevada rule. He called it one of the most unreasonable rules in mixed martial arts.
“We are in a sport that, at times, can be ridiculous. Three fighters from UFC 329 are having sanctioning hearings for celebrations,” Cormier said. “That is probably the most ridiculous rule in mixed martial arts.”
Cormier added that telling fighters not to celebrate with enthusiasm is absurd, especially compared to rules against actual fouls during fights.
Pimblett’s manager has also spoken out against the NSAC for targeting fighter celebrations. The 31-year-old fighter had returned to winning ways after suffering his first UFC loss to Justin Gaethje in an interim lightweight championship fight at UFC 324.
While discussing his anger over the withheld purses, Bisping may have accidentally revealed Pimblett’s next opponent. He mentioned a potential BMF title fight between Pimblett and current champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 334 on November 14 at Madison Square Garden.
The NSAC has not yet announced what penalties, if any, the three fighters will receive. The hearings on August 26 will allow the fighters to explain their actions before a final decision is made.
