Bisping calls it 'utterly ridiculous' that Pimblett's UFC 329 purse is withheld for cage jump

Michael Bisping has condemned the athletic commission regulation that is preventing Paddy Pimblett from receiving his fight purse from UFC 329, calling it “utterly ridiculous” and demanding the rule be scrapped entirely. Pimblett submitted Benoit St. Denis in the first round at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in July, but his payment remains withheld because he jumped on the cage during his post-fight celebration.

Pimblett is not alone. Max Holloway and Gable Steveson, who also climbed the cage after their respective victories at the same event, are similarly under investigation and face potential fines or withheld purses.

Bisping, the former UFC middleweight champion, argued on his YouTube channel that the instinct to scale the cage after a major win is entirely natural and should not be punishable. “You’ve just won in front of thousands of people and millions watching around the world. You’re allowed to celebrate winning,” he said. “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. It’s nonsense. It’s a crime.”

The Hall of Famer drew on personal experience to reinforce his point, noting that he did the same thing after claiming the middleweight title at UFC 199 in California — one of the most strictly regulated commissions in the United States — without facing any sanction at the time.

“I did it at UFC 199 in California, one of the strictest commissions in the world,” Bisping said. “A lot of fighters jump on top of the cage.”

Bisping also levelled a pointed accusation at the commissions themselves, suggesting the enforcement of the rule is financially motivated rather than rooted in genuine safety or sporting concerns. “It’s the athletic commissions trying to get a few bucks for themselves,” he said. “This rule needs to be changed.”

The controversy has drawn widespread criticism from within the MMA community, with Pimblett’s case in particular attracting attention given his profile as one of the sport’s most marketable fighters. No timeline has been confirmed for when the investigation into the UFC 329 celebrations will be resolved.