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How did Sophie Cunningham's UFC 329 cameo come together?
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

How did Sophie Cunningham's UFC 329 cameo come together?

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. 

Dana White explains how Sophie Cunningham stepped into UFC 329 role

"[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.

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.  

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. 

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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