Bisping Slams NSAC For Withholding UFC 329 Purses

Former UFC champion Michael Bisping has torn into the Nevada State Athletic Commission over its decision to withhold fight purses from three UFC 329 winners who climbed the cage after their bouts.

The NSAC is holding pay from Max Holloway, Paddy Pimblett, and Gable Steveson pending disciplinary hearings, BJPenn.com reports. All three scaled the Octagon fence during post-fight celebrations. Bisping addressed the controversy on his YouTube channel, arguing that the commission is manufacturing revenue at fighters' expense.

Why NSAC Cage-Climbing Rules Draw Fire

Bisping pointed out that he climbed the cage after winning the middleweight title at UFC 199 in California without penalty. Boxers routinely stand on ring ropes to salute crowds, he noted, yet MMA fighters face fines and withheld purses for comparable gestures. He questioned why athletic commissions single out cage celebrations when athletes have just performed in front of tens of thousands live and millions watching globally.

Daniel Cormier has also criticised the NSAC for penalising celebrations that do not interfere with medical personnel or create genuine safety hazards. Pimblett's management team spoke out against what they view as selective enforcement. Whether the backlash prompts Nevada to revisit its policy remains unclear, but the commission will hold hearings to determine how long the three fighters wait for their money.

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• BJPenn — Michael Bisping slams NSAC for ‘utter dogsh*t’ rule that withholds purses for UFC 329 fighters