​One of the night’s surprises at UFC 329 on Saturday was Sophie Cunningham, the WNBA and Indiana Fever star guard, stepping into the spotlight as a guest ring girl for a flyweight clash on the card. The moment unfolded during the co-main event featuring Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis, with Cunningham noting that it marked her first-ever UFC experience. She embraced the role with enthusiasm, delivering a memorable performance in the co-main bout.
Cunningham described the night as an overall blast, telling reporters on Sunday, “Went to my first live fight last night, which was so cool. The whole experience overall was wonderful.” Her involvement as a guest ring girl didn’t come about far in advance; rather, it came together just minutes before she entered the Octagon. The arrangement was sparked by a conversation with UFC president and CEO Dana White, whom Cunningham has developed a friendship with over time.
“Dana came over to say what’s up and I was like, ‘Hey, if you need a ring girl, let me know,’ and he’s like, ‘Alright, first round for the Paddy fight, that’s you,’” she recounted. She laughed at the exchange, recalling, “I was like, ‘Yeah, hah,’ and he was like, ‘No, seriously,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, God.’” Despite the last-minute timing, Cunningham found the experience incredibly enjoyable and described the environment as fantastic.
White spoke glowingly of Cunningham after the event: “We’ve created a relationship, and she was here tonight. When she walked in, she goes, ‘Oh, I want to walk around that.’ I said, ‘Then you’re gonna walk around it,’” White explained. Cunningham’s performance in the ring was executed flawlessly, and the guest role was a hit.
In addition to her ring-walk duties, Cunningham also brought a playful energy to the event by re-enacting her viral moment with UFC fighter Max Holloway. The moment added another layer of excitement to the night, underscoring Cunningham’s ability to connect with the UFC audience beyond her athletic achievements on the basketball court.
On the other side of the main event spectrum, not everything went as one would hope for the night’s headliner. Conor McGregor, returning to the Octagon after a five-year hiatus, faced a setback due to a knee injury that forced a stoppage just over one minute into the bout against Holloway. The stoppage marked one of the more disappointing outcomes in UFC history for a major spectacle and contributed to the dramatic swing of the event.
The night’s atmosphere was electric, underscored by the significant gate revenue generated by McGregor’s highly anticipated return. The UFC reported a record-breaking $25 million in gate receipts, surpassing the previous record by $3 million and underscoring the fight night’s immense commercial appeal. While there are ongoing discussions about the circumstances surrounding McGregor’s injury, including speculation that he may have sustained an issue before stepping into the Octagon, no definitive proof has emerged to confirm those theories.
Despite the controversy and the letdown surrounding the main event, Cunningham’s guest ring-girl appearance added a positive, memorable dimension to UFC 329. Her ability to pivot from basketball star to ring-side entertainment demonstrated the cross-sport versatility that has helped her maintain a high profile among fans of both the WNBA and MMA. As the UFC continues to blend entertainment with sport, moments like Cunningham’s participation highlight the evolving nature of fight night experiences and the ways in which athletes from different disciplines can contribute to the spectacle.