Vanessa Demopoulos

Vanessa Demopoulos (born September 22, 1988) is an American female mixed martial artist who competes in the Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Vanessa Demopoulos
Born (1988-09-22) September 22, 1988
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Other namesLil Monster
Height5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Weight115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st)
DivisionStrawweight
Reach59 in (150 cm)[1]
Fighting out ofLos Angeles, California
TeamFight Ready
Ronin Training Center
Mixed martial arts record
Total15
Wins10
By knockout1
By submission4
By decision5
Losses5
By decision5
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, her parents and paternal grandparents raised her in Greece, as she is half Greek herself and Greek is her first language. After she got involved with drugs and became homeless as a teenager, she got her life back together by following in her mother's footsteps at the age of 18, becoming an exotic dancer, continuing in the profession until right before her appearance at UFC 270.[2][3][4][5]

Demopoulos started training in MMA around the age of 21, however her childhood was filled with fighting, even getting kicked out of schools for fighting.[5][6]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

In her MMA debut at Iron Tiger Fight Series 79, she faced Emme Weber and went on to submit her in the first round via armbar. She made her Legacy Fighting Alliance debut at LFA 52, losing via unanimous decision to Itzel Sequivel. In her second appearance with LFA at LFA 62, She defeated Valerie Soto via majority decision. At LFA 69, she submitted Nadine Mandaiu in the first round via armbar, before defeating Loveth Young at LFA 81 via unanimous decision.[7]

Demopoulos faced Sam Hughes for the inaugural LFA Women's Strawweight Championship on July 17, 2020 at LFA 85. She won the bout after chocking Hughes unconscious in the 4th round via inverted triangle choke.[8][9]

On 11 August 2020, Demopoulos appeared on Dana White's Contender Series 28 against Cory McKenna.[10] She lost the bout via unanimous decision.[11]

In the next bout at LFA 94, Demopoulos attempted to defend the LFA Women's Strawweight Championship against Lupita Godinez, losing the close bout and the belt via majority decision.[12]

She rebounded from the loss, defeating Cynthia Arceo in 37 seconds via TKO stoppage at LFA 103 on March 26, 2021.[13][14]

Demopoulos was booked to face Kathryn Paprocki on August 27, 2021 at LFA 114, however she was called to fight on short notice in the UFC.[15]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Demopoulos made her promotional debut on short notice replacing Tracy Cortez against JJ Aldrich on August 28, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 30.[16][17] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[18]

Demopoulos was scheduled to face Ashley Yoder on January 15, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 32.[19][20] However, Yoder withdrew from the event for undisclosed reasons and she was replaced by Silvana Gómez Juárez.[21] The bout was pushed back to UFC 270 a few days before the event.[22] She won the bout via armbar in the first round.[23]

Demopoulos faced Jinh Yu Frey on June 25, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 38.[24] She won the bout via split decision.[25]

Demopoulos faced Maria Oliveira on November 19, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 215.[26] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[27]

Demopoulos faced Karolina Kowalkiewicz on May 20, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 223.[28] At the weigh-ins, Demopoulos weighed in at 117.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the women's strawweight limit in a non-title fight. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Demopoulos was fined 20 percent of her purse, which went to Kowalkiewicz.[29] Demopoulos lost the fight via unanimous decision.[30]

Demopoulos faced Kanako Murata on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229.[31] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[32]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
15 matches 10 wins 5 losses
By knockout 1 0
By submission 4 0
By decision 5 5
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 10–5 Kanako Murata Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green October 7, 2023 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 9–5 Karolina Kowalkiewicz Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill May 20, 2023 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Catchweight (117.5 lb) bout; Demopoulos missed weight.
Win 9–4 Maria Oliveira Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba November 19, 2022 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 8–4 Jinh Yu Frey Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot June 25, 2022 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 7–4 Silvana Gómez Juárez Submission (armbar) UFC 270 January 22, 2022 1 2:25 Anaheim, California, United States Return to Strawweight. Performance of the Night.
Loss 6–4 JJ Aldrich Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze August 28, 2021 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Flyweight debut.
Win 6–3 Cynthia Arceo TKO (punches) LFA 103 March 26, 2021 1 0:37 Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States Catchweight (118.8 lb) bout; Arceo missed weight.
Loss 5–3 Lupita Godinez Decision (majority) LFA 94 October 30, 2020 5 5:00 Park City, Kansas, United States Lost the LFA Women's Strawweight Championship.
Loss 5–2 Cory McKenna Decision (unanimous) Dana White's Contender Series 28 August 11, 2020 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 5–1 Sam Hughes Technical Submission (inverted triangle choke) LFA 85 July 17, 2020 4 2:21 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States Won the inaugural LFA Women's Strawweight Championship.
Win 4–1 Loveth Young Decision (unanimous) LFA 81 January 31, 2020 3 5:00 Costa Mesa, California, United States
Win 3–1 Nadine Mandiau Submission (armbar) LFA 69 June 7, 2019 1 2:37 Cabazon, California, United States
Win 2–1 Valerie Ann Marie Soto Decision (majority) LFA 62 March 22, 2019 3 5:00 Dallas, Texas, United States Catchweight (120 lb) bout.
Loss 1–1 Itzel Esquivel Decision (unanimous) LFA 52 October 19, 2018 3 5:00 Belton, Texas, United States
Win 1–0 Emme Weber Submission (armbar) IT Fight Series 79 December 15, 2017 1 4:36 Columbus, Ohio, United States Strawweight debut.

[33]


See also

References
  1. "Stats | UFC". www.ufcstats.com. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  2. Heck, Mike (2022-01-25). "Vanessa Demopoulos explains decision to quit exotic dancing: 'It was one of the scariest things I have ever done'". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  3. "Vanessa Demopoulos quit job as stripper ahead of massive UFC moment". New York Post. 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  4. Dawson, Alan. "A UFC strawweight says she quit her full-time job as a stripper to focus on MMA, and it was the scariest thing she's done". Insider. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  5. "LFA 52's Vanessa Demopoulos: The Entertainment Business". Combat Press. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  6. "LFA 52: How Vanessa Demopoulos turned her 'aggressive' childhood into a budding career". FanSided. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  7. "Across the Pond Profile: Legacy Fighting Alliance fighter Vanessa Demopoulos | MMA UK". 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  8. Sherdog.com. "Crystal Vanessa Demopoulos Inverted Triangle Chokes Sam Hughes Unconscious at LFA 85". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  9. Staff (2020-07-18). "LFA 85 Results: Vanessa Demopoulos Claims Title in Style". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  10. Gonzalez, Gabriel (2020-07-25). "New LFA Champ Demopoulos to Compete at DWCS on August 11". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  11. "Dana White's Contender Series 28 results: All five winners score UFC deals". MMA Junkie. 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  12. "LFA 94 results: Lupita Godinez claims title from Vanessa Demopoulos in bloody affair". MMA Junkie. 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  13. Anderson, Jay (2021-03-27). "Carlyle, Demopoulos Score Quick Wins at LFA 103". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  14. Sherdog.com. "LFA 103 Highlight Video: Crystal Vanessa Demopoulos Destroys Cynthia Arceo". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  15. Gonzalez, Gabriel (2021-08-13). "Breaking: Demopoulos vs Paprocki at LFA 114 on August 27". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  16. "Injury knocks Tracy Cortez out of UFC on ESPN 30 fight vs. J.J. Aldrich". MMA Junkie. 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  17. Marcel Dorff (2021-08-21). "BREAKING: Vanessa Demopoulos maakt UFC debuut tegen JJ Aldrich op 28 augustus in Las Vegas". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-04-13.
  18. Bitter, Shawn (2021-08-28). "UFC Vegas 35 Results: JJ Aldrich Spoils Debut of Vanessa Demopoulos". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  19. Jamal Boussenaf (2021-10-19). "BREAKING: Ashley Yoder treft Vanessa Demopoulos op 15 januari". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  20. Ashley Yoder [@spidermonkeyyoda] (October 19, 2021). "So PUMPED to get a NEW 4 fight contract with @ufc 🔥🙏🏽💯🇺🇸 I cannot thank @jasonkhouse @mickmaynard2 enough for giving me the opportunity to continue doing what I love most!!" – via Instagram.
  21. DNA, MMA (2021-11-11). "Silvana Gomez Juarez vervangt Ashley Yoder tegen Vanessa Demopoulos op 15 januari". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  22. Gabriel Gonzalez (2022-01-12). "Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Silvana Juarez pushed back a week to UFC 270". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  23. Evanoff, Josh (2022-01-22). "UFC 270: Vanessa Demopoulos Survives Knockdown, Submits Silvana Gomez Juarez". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  24. "UFC news: Vanessa Demopoulos set to face Jinh Yu Frey at June 25 event". MMA Junkie. 2022-03-26. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  25. Anderson, Jay (2022-06-25). "UFC Vegas 57: Vanessa Demopoulos Earns Split Decision Over Game Jinh Yu Frey". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  26. Gonzalez, Gabriel (2022-08-23). "UFC: Vanessa Demopoulos vs Maria Oliveira Set for November 19". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  27. Anderson, Jay (2022-11-19). "UFC Vegas 65: Vanessa Demopoulos Claims Decision in Wild, Fun Fight with Maria Oliveira". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  28. Nowosielski, Tomasz (2023-02-19). "Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs Vanessa Demopoulos na UFC Fight Night 225 | MMAROCKS". MMA Rocks! (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  29. Alexander K. Lee (2023-05-19). "UFC Vegas 73 weigh-in results: Mackenzie Dern, Angela Hill hit the mark for headliner, two fighters miss". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  30. Anderson, Jay (2023-05-20). "UFC Vegas 73: Karolina Kowalkiewicz Builds on Win Streak, Takes Decision Against Vanessa Demopoulos". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  31. Anderson, Jay (19 July 2023). "UFC: Vanessa Demopoulos Draws Returning Kanako Murata on October 7". Cageside Press. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  32. Anderson, Jay (2023-10-07). "UFC Vegas 80: Kanako Murata Ends Lengthy Layoff, Loses Decision to Vanessa Demopoulos". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  33. "Vanessa "Lil Monster" Demopoulos MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
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