Sophie Cunningham kicks off her shoes and walks the Octagon at UFC 329 as a surprise ring girl
Sophie Cunningham made the most of her night in Las Vegas.
The Indiana Fever guard made a surprise Octagon girl appearance at UFC 329 on Saturday night, just hours before she got back to real business against the Las Vegas Aces.
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Sophie Cunningham announced the round will be held during the lightweight fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on July 11, 2026. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Cunningham was already sitting ringside at T-Mobile Arena when he apparently decided watching the fights wasn’t enough.
Ahead of the co-main event between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis, the 6-foot-4 WNBA star picked up her Round 1 card, kicked off her shoes and took a spin around the Octagon in a black tank top and shorts.
It also spawned the sign gesture, which became one of the biggest memes of the year.
According to UFC CEO Dana White, it all happened about eight minutes before Cunningham left.
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“We built a relationship and he was here tonight,” White told reporters after the incident. “When he walked in, he said, ‘Oh, I want to go around this.’ I said, ‘Then you’ll go around it.'”
And that’s it. Sophie Cunningham was a UFC ring girl.
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham jokes with Max Holloway after UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on July 11, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
However, he only went one round. Pimblett choked Saint Denis unconscious in less than a minute, ending the fight in the first round.
Cunningham still seemed to enjoy his brief career change; she was laughing, posing for the cameras and pointing to her famous row.
“I love Sophie Cunningham,” White said. “Yes, it’s fun.”
Frankly.
Sophie Cunningham announced the round will take place during her lightweight fight at UFC 329 on July 11, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
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Cunningham has become one of the most well-known players in the WNBA, thanks in large part to her role as Caitlin Clark’s enforcer.
Her finger-pointing confrontation with DeWanna Bonner became one of the memes of the year. Adidas Crazy Energy’s special shoes for players are released on July 24. Now she can add UFC ring girl to her resume.
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Sophie Cunningham is on top of the world.
