Dana White has publicly backed a rule change following the Nevada State Athletic Commission's decision to withhold $2,500 from the purses of Max Holloway, Paddy Pimblett, and Gable Steveson after UFC 329. The fines stemmed from the fighters leaving the Octagon to celebrate their wins, including Pimblett's 52-second choke-out of Benoit Saint-Denis. White argued that fighters who exit the cage out of excitement should not be penalised, while those who leave with violent intent toward others should face punishment.
UFC President Dana White has come out swinging against the Nevada State Athletic Commission after the regulatory body withheld $2,500 each from the purses of Max Holloway, Paddy Pimblett, and Gable Steveson following UFC 329, with all three penalised for leaving the Octagon to celebrate their victories.
White made his position clear in public remarks, drawing a firm distinction between fighters who exit the cage in a moment of jubilation and those who do so with harmful intent toward others. In his view, only the latter should face any financial consequence, and he has thrown his weight behind a rule change to reflect that common-sense separation.
The fines touched three fighters from different points on the card. Holloway, 34, carries a 28-9 record and sits fourth in the lightweight rankings and ninth pound-for-pound — a seasoned veteran whose celebration drew the same flat penalty as anyone else on the night. Pimblett, 31, ranked fifth at lightweight with a 24-4 record, finished his bout in just 52 seconds by rear-naked choke, submitting Benoit Saint-Denis before sprinting out of the cage in apparent disbelief at the speed of the stoppage. Saint-Denis, 30 and ranked sixth in the division at 17-4, entered the fight as one of the more dangerous opponents in the lightweight top ten, averaging 4.15 takedowns per 15 minutes and connecting on 58 percent of his significant strikes. The Frenchman's submission loss to Pimblett — who averages 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes — came faster than almost anyone anticipated.
Why it matters
- The NSAC fines set a precedent that could affect how fighters celebrate high-emotion finishes going forward.
- White's public push for a rule change puts the UFC's leadership in direct conflict with state commission policy.
- Pimblett's 52-second finish of a top-six lightweight could accelerate his climb toward title contention and adds urgency to the regulatory debate around post-fight conduct.
