Bisping slams NSAC as 'a crime' for threatening to withhold Holloway, Pimblett and Steveson purses over cage celebrations

Max Holloway, Paddy Pimblett, and Gable Steveson are facing the prospect of having their UFC 329 purses withheld after the Nevada State Athletic Commission scheduled hearings for Wednesday to address the three fighters climbing the cage following their wins at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 11.

The potential penalties stem from a longstanding NSAC rule prohibiting fighters from scaling the fence after bouts — a rule that UFC Hall of Famer and commentator Michael Bisping has now publicly and forcefully condemned.

“It all goes back to when [Pimblett] beat Benoit Saint Denis and what did he do? He celebrated,” Bisping said. “He jumped on the cage, like a lot of fighters do. He wasn’t the only one that night that jumped on the cage. No, Max Holloway did it. Gable Steveson did it. And they’re also under investigation and they may have their purses withheld or they potentially are going to get fined thousands of dollars. Now, this is utterly ridiculous. I hate this rule.”

Bisping drew on his own history with the rule, recalling his cage climb at UFC 199 in California after his stunning knockout of Luke Rockhold to claim the middleweight title — an event he described as one of the most emotional moments of his career.

“I did it at UFC 199, which was in California, which is one of the strictest ones in the world,” he said. “A lot of fighters jump on top of the cage. It’s one of the best bits — you want to celebrate, you’ve just won in front of 20,000 people, in front of millions of people watching all over the world. You’re allowed to celebrate winning.”

Bisping also pointed to boxing as an inconsistency in how combat sports are regulated, noting that fighters routinely climb the ropes in celebration without facing any sanction from their governing bodies.

“Boxers do it in a boxing ring. They jump on the ropes and salute the crowd. That happens all the time and apparently there’s no issue with that, but if MMA fighters jump on top of the cage, then they’re going to get fined, they might have their purses withheld. It is utter, absolute dogshit. It’s nonsense. It’s a crime. It is the athletic commissions trying to get a few bucks for themselves. This rule needs to be changed.”

The outcome of Wednesday’s NSAC hearings will determine whether Holloway, Pimblett, and Steveson escape punishment or forfeit a portion of their earnings. Bisping made clear he hopes the commission not only clears the fighters but uses the moment to eliminate the rule entirely.

“I hope that gets laughed out of the courtroom,” he said. “I hope they make a rule change. I hope that becomes a thing of the past. Nobody gets hurt — this is absolute bullshit. It’s nonsense, it’s silly, stupid.”