Sophie Cunningham traded the basketball court for the Octagon over the weekend, making a surprise appearance as a ring girl during UFC 329 in Las Vegas.
The Indiana Fever guard took advantage of the team’s downtime before Sunday’s matchup against the Las Vegas Aces by stepping into a completely different spotlight. Fans inside T-Mobile Arena were caught off guard when the WNBA star walked out carrying a round card ahead of the night’s co-main event.
Cunningham Stuns Fans With Last-Minute UFC Cameo
Cunningham turned heads in a black, low-cut top paired with matching shorts as she circled the Octagon before Paddy Pimblett faced Benoit Saint-Denis.
According to UFC president Dana White, the appearance wasn’t planned very far in advance.
“I love Sophie Cunningham,” White told reporters 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 [Octagon].’ I said, ‘Then you’re going to walk around it.’ She’s fun.”
White also revealed the opportunity came together at the last minute, claiming Cunningham was brought in only about “eight minutes” before the fight.
Her stint as a ring girl was brief, however, as the co-main event ended almost as soon as it began.
Paddy Pimblett Dominates Benoit Saint-Denis
Pimblett wasted little time making a statement, submitting Saint-Denis less than a minute into the opening round.
The quick victory snapped Saint-Denis’ four-fight finishing streak and thrust Pimblett right back into the lightweight title conversation after his January loss to Justin Gaethje ended his previously undefeated UFC run.
The British fighter secured an early takedown and immediately controlled the action on the ground. Once the fight hit the mat, Pimblett showcased his grappling skills, quickly advancing to a dominant position before locking in the fight-ending submission.
Coming into UFC 329, Pimblett faced increased pressure after suffering the first loss of his UFC career earlier this year. Another defeat would have marked the first back-to-back losses of his professional career, but instead, the No. 9-ranked lightweight strengthened his case for a climb up the division’s rankings.
Fever Return to Action After Strong Win
While Cunningham enjoyed a memorable night in Las Vegas, her focus now shifts back to basketball.
Indiana heads into Sunday’s showdown against the Aces with momentum after bouncing back from a loss to the Los Angeles Sparks by defeating the Phoenix Mercury 92-89 on Thursday.
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