
Many didn't know Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham would be walking alongside the Octagon at UFC 329. Neither did she.
After Saturday's fights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas concluded, UFC president/CEO Dana White said Cunningham's appearance as a member of the Octagon crew was spontaneous.
"[We decided] eight minutes before she did it," White said (h/t Tom Rashid of BoxingNews.com). "I love Sophie Cunningham. We've created a relationship. She was here tonight, and when she walked in, she goes 'Oh, I want to walk around [The Octagon].' I said, 'Then, you're going to walk around it.'"
Cunningham joined the normal Octagon crew in holding cards before rounds. She then walked back to her seat in the front row, started giggling and pointed her finger at the camera, a nod to her viral finger-pointing meme.
Thanks for the help @Sophaller
— UFC (@ufc) July 12, 2026
[ #UFC329 is LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/16JXruA7pw
The 6-foot-1 guard could soon be making more appearances at other UFC events. White said she's becoming a part of the fighting championship's regular celebrity crew.
White's probably even more appreciative that Cunningham cameoed on Saturday night after the main event between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway disappointed. McGregor, who was making his long-awaited comeback, suffered a leg injury seconds after the fight began. The bout lasted 69 seconds before it was called.
Max Holloway defeats Conor McGregor by TKO in Round 1#UFC329 pic.twitter.com/52BnFWgeh2
— UFC (@ufc) July 12, 2026
McGregor issued a statement after Saturday's contest, in which he admitted he's unsure how he suffered the injury after battling no setbacks in training. That raises more questions about his UFC future as he approaches his 38th birthday on Tuesday.
With McGregor nearing the end of his career, that leaves the UFC without one of its biggest names. Until he finds a replacement for McGregor, White can rely on his celebrity clientele, which includes Cunningham, to keep the UFC feeling high-profile.
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