Dana White wants Nevada regulators to distinguish harmless celebrations from confrontations before fining UFC fighters who leave the Octagon.
The UFC CEO addressed the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s $2,500 penalties for Max Holloway, Paddy Pimblett and Gable Steveson. White said the emotion behind a victory matters unless a fighter leaves the cage intending to confront someone.
White Draws The Line At Violent Intent
It’s one of those tough things because these guys get so excited. And, you know, when you’re caught up in the moment, when you think about how hard they train, they’re gone from their families, they cut weight, they do all this stuff, and then, you know, they win. They’re not thinking about fines or any of that stuff.
What I think should happen is if you jump out of the cage to do something violent or something, you know, then you should get fined and you should be—you know, the perfect example is Khabib when he went after, you know, those type of things. But if you just get, you know, overly excited and you jump out of the cage, I don’t think it’s a big deal.
White rejected the idea that the commission needs an elaborate consultation with the UFC to create that distinction.
I mean, this is pretty much common sense. I mean, this isn’t some fucking big executive decision that needs to be made that they need to call and talk to us.
I mean, it’s pretty simple. If a guy jumps over the cage with bad intentions toward another fighter or somebody in the crowd or something like that, yes, fine the shit out of them. But if they don’t, then, you know, then they shouldn’t.
Max Holloway, Paddy Pimblett and Gable Steveson were each fined $2,500 by the Nevada Athletic Commission for leaving or scaling the Octagon after their UFC 329 victories.
The commission deducted each fine from the purse it had withheld after the July 11 event, released the remaining money and imposed no additional suspension or penalty.
Official UFC 329 Videos Behind The Three Fines
The official UFC videos below show the three victories and post-fight moments that led to the commission cases.
Nevada Commissioners Explain Why The Rule Remains
Commissioner Anthony Marnell pointed to the UFC 229 brawl that followed Khabib Nurmagomedov’s win over Conor McGregor.
A pretty rough night for all of us. It just can’t happen anymore.
Chairman Dallas Haun acknowledged that the UFC 329 fighters were celebrating rather than starting a confrontation, but said the situation outside the cage can change immediately.
They’re jumping the cage to shake Dana White’s hand, and we appreciate the difference. Someone in the crowd behind Dana screaming something could change that in an instant.
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.
Pimblett’s manager, Graham Boylan, had argued before the hearing that the rule should change.
For the record, this rule needs to be changed. Yes, it’s the fight game, and systems need to be in play to make it all work, but this rule does nothing to support that. It’s 2026. Apply a little common sense.
The final decision follows the earlier UFC 329 purse-withholding hearings. It also comes after Michael Bisping criticized the cage-climb rule and as Steveson continues discussing his fast heavyweight rise.
