Vanessa Demopoulos Explained

Vanessa Demopoulos
Other Names:Lil Monster
Birth Name:Crystal Vanessa Demopoulos
Birth Date:22 September 1988
Birth Place:Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Weight:115lb
Weight Class:Strawweight
Reach:59 in[1]
Fighting Out Of:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Team:Fight Ready
Ronin Training Center
Mma Kowin:1
Mma Subwin:4
Mma Decwin:6
Mma Subloss:1
Mma Decloss:5
Sherdog:118775

Crystal Vanessa Demopoulos[2] (born September 22, 1988) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the women's Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

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.[3] [4] [5] [6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9] [10]

On August 11, 2020, Demopoulos appeared on Dana White's Contender Series 28 against Cory McKenna.[11] She lost the bout via unanimous decision.[12]

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.[13]

She rebounded from the loss, defeating Cynthia Arceo in 37 seconds via TKO stoppage at LFA 103 on March 26, 2021.[14] [15]

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.[16]

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.[17] [18] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[19]

Demopoulos was scheduled to face Ashley Yoder on January 15, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 32.[20] [21] However, Yoder withdrew from the event for undisclosed reasons and she was replaced by Silvana Gómez Juárez.[22] The bout was pushed back to UFC 270 a few days before the event.[23] She won the bout via armbar in the first round.[24]

Demopoulos faced Jinh Yu Frey on June 25, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 38.[25] She won the bout via split decision.[26]

Demopoulos faced Maria Oliveira on November 19, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 215.[27] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[28]

Demopoulos faced Karolina Kowalkiewicz on May 20, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 223.[29] 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.[30] Demopoulos lost the fight via unanimous decision.[31]

Demopoulos faced Kanako Murata on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229.[32] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[33]

Demopoulos faced Emily Ducote on May 18, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 241.[34] She won the fight by split decision.[35]

Demopoulos faced Jaqueline Amorim on September 7, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 242.[36] Despite complaining that Amorim's hands were in her gloves, Demopoulos lost the fight via an armbar submission in the first round.[37]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

|-|Loss|align=center|11–6|Jaqueline Amorim|Submission (armbar)| | |align=center|1|align=center|3:28|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|11–5|Emily Ducote|Decision (split)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|10–5|Kanako Murata|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States ||-|Loss|align=center|9–5|Karolina Kowalkiewicz|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|9–4|Maria Oliveira|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00||Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|8–4|Jinh Yu Frey|Decision (split)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|7–4|Silvana Gómez Juárez|Submission (armbar)|UFC 270||align=center|1|align=center|2:25|Anaheim, California, United States||-|Loss|align=center|6–4|JJ Aldrich|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|6–3|Cynthia Arceo|TKO (punches)|LFA 103||align=center|1|align=center|0:37|Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States||-|Loss|align=center|5–3|Lupita Godinez|Decision (majority)|LFA 94||align=center| 5|align=center| 5:00|Park City, Kansas, United States||-|Loss|align=center|5–2|Cory McKenna|Decision (unanimous)|Dana White's Contender Series 28||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|5–1|Sam Hughes|Technical Submission (inverted triangle choke)|LFA 85||align=center|4|align=center|2:21|Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States||-|Win|align=center|4–1|Loveth Young|Decision (unanimous)|LFA 81||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Costa Mesa, California, United States| |-|Win|align=center|3–1|Nadine Mandiau|Submission (armbar)|LFA 69||align=center|1|align=center|2:37|Cabazon, California, United States||-|Win|align=center|2–1|Valerie Ann Marie Soto|Decision (majority)|LFA 62||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Dallas, Texas, United States||-|Loss|align=center|1–1|Itzel Esquivel|Decision (unanimous)|LFA 52||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Belton, Texas, United States||-|Win|align=center|1–0|Emme Weber|Submission (armbar)|IT Fight Series 79||align=center|1|align=center|4:36|Columbus, Ohio, United States|[38]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stats UFC. www.ufcstats.com. 8 June 2022.
  2. Web site: Vanessa Demopoulos ("Lil Monster") MMA Fighter Page . 2024-09-18 . Tapology . en.
  3. Web site: Heck . Mike . 2022-01-25 . Vanessa Demopoulos explains decision to quit exotic dancing: 'It was one of the scariest things I have ever done' . 2022-06-20 . MMA Fighting . en.
  4. Web site: 2022-01-25 . Vanessa Demopoulos quit job as stripper ahead of massive UFC moment . 2022-06-20 . New York Post . en-US.
  5. Web site: 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 . 2022-06-20 . Insider . en-US.
  6. Web site: LFA 52's Vanessa Demopoulos: The Entertainment Business . 2022-06-20 . Combat Press . en-US.
  7. Web site: 2018-10-16 . LFA 52: How Vanessa Demopoulos turned her 'aggressive' childhood into a budding career . 2022-06-20 . FanSided . en-US.
  8. Web site: 2020-02-10 . Across the Pond Profile: Legacy Fighting Alliance fighter Vanessa Demopoulos MMA UK . 2022-06-20 . en-GB.
  9. Web site: Sherdog.com . Crystal Vanessa Demopoulos Inverted Triangle Chokes Sam Hughes Unconscious at LFA 85 . 2021-10-05 . Sherdog.
  10. Web site: Staff . 2020-07-18 . LFA 85 Results: Vanessa Demopoulos Claims Title in Style . 2021-10-05 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  11. Web site: Gonzalez . Gabriel . 2020-07-25 . New LFA Champ Demopoulos to Compete at DWCS on August 11 . 2022-06-20 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  12. Web site: 2020-08-12 . Dana White's Contender Series 28 results: All five winners score UFC deals . 2022-03-05 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2020-10-31 . LFA 94 results: Lupita Godinez claims title from Vanessa Demopoulos in bloody affair . 2021-10-16 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  14. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2021-03-27 . Carlyle, Demopoulos Score Quick Wins at LFA 103 . 2022-06-20 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  15. Web site: Sherdog.com . LFA 103 Highlight Video: Crystal Vanessa Demopoulos Destroys Cynthia Arceo . 2022-06-20 . Sherdog . en.
  16. Web site: Gonzalez . Gabriel . 2021-08-13 . Breaking: Demopoulos vs Paprocki at LFA 114 on August 27 . 2022-06-20 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  17. Web site: 2021-08-18. Injury knocks Tracy Cortez out of UFC on ESPN 30 fight vs. J.J. Aldrich. 2021-08-19. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  18. Web site: Marcel Dorff. 2021-08-21. BREAKING: Vanessa Demopoulos maakt UFC debuut tegen JJ Aldrich op 28 augustus in Las Vegas. 2022-04-13. MMA DNA. nl.
  19. Web site: Bitter. Shawn. 2021-08-28. UFC Vegas 35 Results: JJ Aldrich Spoils Debut of Vanessa Demopoulos. 2021-08-29. Cageside Press. en-US.
  20. Web site: Jamal Boussenaf . 2021-10-19 . BREAKING: Ashley Yoder treft Vanessa Demopoulos op 15 januari . 2021-10-20 . MMA DNA . nl.
  21. CVOArZJJ4eo. 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!!. Ashley Yoder. spidermonkeyyoda. October 19, 2021.
  22. Web site: DNA . MMA . 2021-11-11 . Silvana Gomez Juarez vervangt Ashley Yoder tegen Vanessa Demopoulos op 15 januari . 2021-11-12 . MMA DNA . en-US.
  23. Web site: Gabriel Gonzalez . 2022-01-12 . Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Silvana Juarez pushed back a week to UFC 270 . 2022-01-12 . cagesidepress.com.
  24. Web site: Evanoff . Josh . 2022-01-22 . UFC 270: Vanessa Demopoulos Survives Knockdown, Submits Silvana Gomez Juarez . 2022-06-10 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  25. Web site: 2022-03-26 . UFC news: Vanessa Demopoulos set to face Jinh Yu Frey at June 25 event . 2022-03-26 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  26. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2022-06-25 . UFC Vegas 57: Vanessa Demopoulos Earns Split Decision Over Game Jinh Yu Frey . 2022-06-26 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  27. Web site: Gonzalez . Gabriel . 2022-08-23 . UFC: Vanessa Demopoulos vs Maria Oliveira Set for November 19 . 2022-08-25 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  28. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2022-11-19 . UFC Vegas 65: Vanessa Demopoulos Claims Decision in Wild, Fun Fight with Maria Oliveira . 2022-11-19 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  29. Web site: Nowosielski . Tomasz . 2023-02-19 . Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs Vanessa Demopoulos na UFC Fight Night 225 MMAROCKS . 2023-02-22 . MMA Rocks! . pl-PL.
  30. Web site: UFC Vegas 73 weigh-in results: Mackenzie Dern, Angela Hill hit the mark for headliner, two fighters miss. mmafighting.com. Alexander K. Lee. 2023-05-19. 2023-05-19.
  31. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2023-05-20 . UFC Vegas 73: Karolina Kowalkiewicz Builds on Win Streak, Takes Decision Against Vanessa Demopoulos . 2023-05-21 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  32. Web site: Anderson . Jay . UFC: Vanessa Demopoulos Draws Returning Kanako Murata on October 7. Cageside Press . 24 July 2023 . 19 July 2023.
  33. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2023-10-07 . UFC Vegas 80: Kanako Murata Ends Lengthy Layoff, Loses Decision to Vanessa Demopoulos . 2023-10-07 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  34. News: UFC books Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Emily Ducote for May Fight Night event . MMA Junkie . 10 February 2024.
  35. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2024-05-18 . UFC Vegas 92: Vanessa Demopoulos Takes Close Decision Over Emily Ducote Despite Injured Arm . 2024-05-18 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  36. Web site: Morning Report: Anthony Smith sad UFC 303 loss 'probably puts the nail in the coffin' for title hopes - Fight Announcements. Drake Riggs. mmafighting.com. 2024-07-11. 2024-07-11.
  37. Web site: UFC Vegas 97: Jaqueline Amorim Subs Vanessa Demopoulos, Who Complains of Glove Grab Foul. cagesidepress.com. Jay Anderson. 2024-09-07. 2024-09-07.
  38. Web site: Vanessa "Lil Monster" Demopoulos MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com. 2022-04-13. Sherdog.

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