NSAC Fines Pimblett After UFC 329 Cage Exit

The Nevada State Athletic Commission moved forward Wednesday with financial penalties against three UFC 329 winners who hopped the cage after their July 11 bouts.

Paddy Pimblett, Max Holloway, and Gable Steveson each received $2,500 fines for exiting the octagon following their victories, according to MMA Junkie. The commission had previously withheld their purses over the celebrations.

NSAC Links Decision to 2018 Incident

Chairman Dallas Haun defended the commission's position by citing the UFC 229 brawl that erupted after Khabib Nurmagomedov jumped the cage in 2018. "We had close to 10 minutes of complete chaos," Haun said, per MMA Junkie. "When it was over, the police holding cells in the back of T-Mobile Arena were full of people handcuffed, laying on their stomachs."

Haun acknowledged the three fighters simply wanted to shake Dana White's hand but maintained the risk remains. "Someone from the crowd behind Dana screaming something could change that in an instant," he said.

UFC Hall of Famers Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping both criticized the ruling, with Bisping suggesting the commission wanted to pocket extra money. The fines stand despite the pushback from prominent figures in the sport.

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• BJPenn — NSAC doubles down on punishment for UFC 329 fighters, fines Paddy Pimblett and two other big names