Max Holloway, Paddy Pimblett, and Gable Steveson fined for jumping outside the octagon at UFC 329

The Nevada Athletic Commission handed down $2,500 fines each to Max Holloway, Paddy Pimblett, and Gable Steveson during its monthly meeting on Wednesday for jumping out of the octagon to celebrate their victories at UFC 329 in July. The fines were deducted from their purses, which the commission had withheld following the event.

The penalty stems from a rule established after UFC 229 in 2018, when Khabib Nurmagomedov vaulted over the cage and attacked members of Conor McGregor's team following his fourth-round rear-naked choke submission victory. That melee escalated into the crowd and required security and police intervention to restore order.

Commissioners acknowledged the rule carries unpopularity among fighters but remained firm that the regulation will not change. Nevada Athletic Commission chairman Dallas Haun explained the commission's reasoning: while it understands fighters jumping the cage to congratulate UFC president Dana White, the potential for an unforeseen provocation in the crowd could trigger another incident like UFC 229. "We're not comfortable, we don't like doing this in these instances, but for the safety of the crowd and having learned from UFC 229 in 2018, we feel very strongly about it," Haun stated. Commissioner Anthony Marnell added: "It just can't happen anymore." The three fighters accepted their fines, and their withheld purses were released with no further penalties imposed.