Sophie Cunningham’s appearance as a UFC ring girl at UFC 309 on Saturday night was a last-minute decision, with the plan coming together only about eight minutes before she took to the octagon. UFC President Dana White revealed the spontaneous nature of the WNBA star and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model’s cameo during the post-fight press conference.
“I love Sophie Cunningham, and we’ve created a relationship,” White said. “She was here (Saturday night), and when she walked in, she goes, ‘Oh, I wanna walk around that.’ I said, ‘Then you’re gonna walk around it.’”
The impromptu appearance occurred during Paddy Pimblett’s walkout for the co-main event. Cunningham then stepped into the octagon, drawing a significant crowd reaction.
Pimblett went on to defeat Benoit Saint-Denis with a front headlock choke in under a minute. White later attended Cunningham’s WNBA game in Las Vegas on Sunday, where he was seen hugging her following the Indiana Fever’s victory over the Las Vegas Aces.
The night at UFC 309, held at T-Mobile Arena, was marked by a series of unexpected events, including the sudden end of the highly anticipated fight between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway. McGregor appeared to injure his knee during an awkward landing after a missed switch kick, leading to the fight being called off after just 69 seconds. This outcome led to boos from the crowd, making Cunningham’s energetic presence a notable highlight amidst the evening's disappointments.