Michael Bisping has publicly condemned the California State Athletic Commission for withholding the fight purses of Paddy Pimblett, Max Holloway, and Gable Steveson following their celebrations at UFC 329, calling the rule a 'crime'. All three fighters scaled the Octagon after their victories on July 11, mirroring a move that previously cost Diego Lopes $2,500 after UFC 300. Bisping joins Daniel Cormier in criticising the CSAC policy, with disciplinary hearings now approaching for the trio.
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has come out swinging against the California State Athletic Commission after the regulatory body withheld the fight purses of Paddy Pimblett, Max Holloway, and Gable Steveson in the wake of UFC 329. All three fighters climbed the Octagon fence to celebrate their victories on July 11, a gesture that has put them at odds with CSAC rules and now has disciplinary hearings on the horizon.
Bisping, the 47-year-old English fighter-turned-analyst who compiled a 30-9 professional record during his Hall of Fame career, minced no words in his condemnation, calling the commission's purse-hold policy a "crime." He is not alone in that view — Daniel Cormier has also been vocal in his criticism of the CSAC's approach, which previously resulted in Diego Lopes losing $2,500 following a similar celebration at UFC 300.
Pimblett, the 31-year-old Liverpool native ranked fifth in the UFC lightweight division, carries a 24-4 record and has become one of the promotion's most popular figures. Landing significant strikes at a rate of 5.48 per minute with 52 percent accuracy, he is a high-output fighter whose post-fight exuberance clearly resonated with the crowd, even if it ran afoul of California's regulations.
Holloway, ranked fourth at lightweight and ninth pound-for-pound at age 34, holds a 28-9 record and remains one of the sport's most decorated veterans. He lands an extraordinary 6.92 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the most prolific offensive fighters in UFC history.
Why it matters
- Three high-profile fighters facing disciplinary hearings signals the CSAC is treating fence-climbing as a serious and recurring enforcement issue.
- The Lopes precedent at UFC 300 suggests financial penalties are likely, though the amounts for Pimblett, Holloway, and Steveson remain to be determined at their hearings.
- Growing criticism from respected voices like Bisping and Cormier could pressure the commission to revisit how it enforces and communicates the rule to fighters.
