Paddy Pimblett under investigation and faces purse being held after UFC 329 win

Paddy Pimblett is set to face the Nevada commission in the aftermath of UFC 329, to determine whether a portion of his purse will be withheld, or turned into a fine.

Pimblett submitted Benoit Saint-Denis in merely 52 seconds at UFC 329, taking down his opponent, lunging for the neck, and choking the Frenchman unconscious.

The 31-year-old unleashed a modified Peruvian necktie-D’Arce choke, describing his jiu-jitsu post-fight as “the best in the world.”

Pimblett claimed his winning method was decided, then delivered, on the fly, taking down Saint-Denis in a career quickest victory.

He now boasts a 24-4-0 MMA record, and elevated his chances significantly of receiving another lightweight title shot.

Pimblett lost to Justin Gaethje via unanimous decision back in January, for the UFC Lightweight Championship, and called for a rematch after defeating Saint-Denis.

Pimblett scaled the octagon’s cage after defeating the Frenchman, then paid tribute to the late Diogo Jota; now, the 31-year-old will face the Nevada commission for his post-UFC 329 antics, with his earnings in danger of being withheld, or turned into a fine.

Pimblett’s purse in danger, faces Nevada commission following UFC 329

According to Middle Easy, the scouser is being threatened with punishment for scaling the cage after defeating Saint-Denis in late July.

He, along with Max Holloway and Gable Steveson, will all face the Nevada commission separately in hearings to determine whether their purses will be withheld, or turned into fines. All three fighters scaled the cage post-victory at UFC 329.

The possible punishment has precedent: at UFC 300 in April 2024, Diego Lopes had $5000 withheld from a $100,000 purse, which was later turned into a $2,500 fine.

Those figures provide an indication of at least the minimum that Pimblett, Holloway and Stevenson can expect to pay for their cage scaling.

READ MORE: Forgotten ex-UFC champion returns to action after two-year absence

Steveson’s case is expected to be the strangest to resolve, with his climb having been scarcely picked up by the broadcaster; the Nevada commission is supposedly aware, regardless.

Should the purse subtraction remain in the ballpark of that experienced by Lopes in 2024, then the punishment will likely stay uncontested by those affected.

However, should Pimblett be charged more, it is expected that noise will be heard among fighters and their management to abolish what many deem an outdated, overly harsh rule.

That sentiment has been echoed by the 31-year-old’s manager, Graham Boylan, who hit out at the cage climb rule in a text message.

“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,” said Boylan.

“It’s 2026. Apply a little common sense,” he concluded. Pimblett and his fellow UFC stars will face the Nevada commission in disciplinary hearings next Wednesday.

Holloway scaled the cage after a similarly speedy victory against Conor McGregor, in which the Irishman blew his knee in the opening round. Steveson prevailed TKO versus Elisha Ellison.