Conor McGregor surprises Ebanie Bridges by flying out special guest for her world title defence
07/12/2023 15:18
Conor McGregor 'secretly' flew out a ring girl to support Ebanie Bridges ahead of her comeback fight.
'The Blonder Bomber' is set to defend her IBF bantamweight title against Miyo Yoshida on the undercard of Devin Haney's clash with WBC super lightweight champion Regis Prograis in San Francisco on Saturday night.
Bridges hasn't fought since stopping Shannon O'Connell inside eight rounds to defend her world title in Leeds last December.
A hand injury hampered her progress, but Bridges is now fully fit and ready to take on the world of boxing after inking a sponsorship deal with McGregor's beer company, Forged Irish Stout.
The former dual-weight UFC champion can't be there in person because his partner, Dee Devlin, has just given birth to their fourth child – but he was keen to let Bridges know she has his full backing.
'Notorious' put one of his Forged Irish Stout ring girls, Chloe Ellman-Baker, on a plane to America so she could realise a personal goal and make the Australian fighters day in the process.
“I shared with Conor my dream to see Ebanie fight here, and true to his word, he made it happen," Ellman-Baker told SunSport.
“Now, as part of the Forged Irish Stout team, I’m beyond excited to cheer Ebanie on.
“My emotions are a mix of excitement and nervousness, especially for the flight, but I know Ebanie will make us all proud.
“Being here is a testament to the incredible opportunities that unfold when passion meets determination.”
Chloe, who worked between rounds when Anthony Joshua beat Jermaine Franklin at London's O2 Arena back in April, snuck up on Bridges while she was giving a pre-fight interview.
The stunned boxer reacted by shouting: “Oh my god!
“What is this? I can’t believe this. You kept it so quiet. My favourite.”
Bridges was a ring girl before lacing up the gloves and becoming one of the most popular fighters on the planet – she’s also someone Ellman-Baker considers a close friend.
She added: “Ebanie Bridges, once a ring girl and now a force to be reckoned with in the ring, has become more than an inspiration for me, she is a friend and a mentor.
“Ebanie's journey from ring girl to a powerhouse in the ring has left an indelible mark on me.
“It’s not just about the glamour, and it’s about breaking boundaries and challenging expectations.
“Ebanie’s impact serves as a driving force for myself as she strives to elevate the legacy of ring girls in the boxing world.”
