Vanessa Demopoulos

Last updated
Vanessa Demopoulos
BornCrystal Vanessa Demopoulos
(1988-09-22) September 22, 1988 (age 36)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Other namesLil Monster
Height5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Weight115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st)
Division Strawweight
Reach59 in (150 cm) [1]
Fighting out of Los Angeles, California, U.S.
TeamFight Ready
Ronin Training Center
Mixed martial arts record
Total17
Wins11
By knockout1
By submission4
By decision6
Losses6
By submission1
By decision5
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

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).

Contents

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. [6] [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]

Demopoulos is scheduled to face Talita Alencar on April 5, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 256. [38]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
17 matches11 wins6 losses
By knockout10
By submission41
By decision65
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss11–6Jaqueline AmorimSubmission (armbar) UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady September 7, 202413:28 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win11–5 Emily Ducote Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy May 18, 202435:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win10–5 Kanako Murata Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green October 7, 202335:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss9–5 Karolina Kowalkiewicz Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill May 20, 202335:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesCatchweight (117.5 lb) bout; Demopoulos missed weight.
Win9–4Maria OliveiraDecision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba November 19, 202235:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win8–4 Jinh Yu Frey Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot June 25, 202235:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win7–4 Silvana Gómez Juárez Submission (armbar) UFC 270 January 22, 202212:25 Anaheim, California, United StatesReturn to Strawweight. Performance of the Night.
Loss6–4 JJ Aldrich Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze August 28, 202135:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesFlyweight debut.
Win6–3Cynthia ArceoTKO (punches) LFA 103 March 26, 202110:37 Shawnee, Oklahoma, United StatesCatchweight (118.8 lb) bout; Arceo missed weight.
Loss5–3 Lupita Godinez Decision (majority) LFA 94 October 30, 202055:00 Park City, Kansas, United StatesLost the LFA Women's Strawweight Championship.
Loss5–2 Cory McKenna Decision (unanimous) Dana White's Contender Series 28 August 11, 202035:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win5–1 Sam Hughes Technical Submission (inverted triangle choke) LFA 85 July 17, 202042:21 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United StatesWon the inaugural LFA Women's Strawweight Championship.
Win4–1Loveth YoungDecision (unanimous) LFA 81 January 31, 202035:00 Costa Mesa, California, United States
Win3–1Nadine MandiauSubmission (armbar) LFA 69 June 7, 201912:37 Cabazon, California, United States
Win2–1Valerie Ann Marie SotoDecision (majority) LFA 62 March 22, 201935:00 Dallas, Texas, United StatesCatchweight (120 lb) bout.
Loss1–1Itzel EsquivelDecision (unanimous) LFA 52 October 19, 201835:00 Belton, Texas, United States
Win1–0Emme WeberSubmission (armbar)IT Fight Series 79December 15, 201714:36 Columbus, Ohio, United StatesStrawweight debut.

[39]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Stats | UFC". www.ufcstats.com. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  2. ↑ "Vanessa Demopoulos ("Lil Monster") | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ "Vanessa Demopoulos quit job as stripper ahead of massive UFC moment". New York Post. 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. 1 2 "LFA 52's Vanessa Demopoulos: The Entertainment Business". Combat Press. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  7. ↑ "LFA 52: How Vanessa Demopoulos turned her 'aggressive' childhood into a budding career". FanSided. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  8. ↑ "Across the Pond Profile: Legacy Fighting Alliance fighter Vanessa Demopoulos | MMA UK". 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  9. ↑ Sherdog.com. "Crystal Vanessa Demopoulos Inverted Triangle Chokes Sam Hughes Unconscious at LFA 85". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  10. ↑ Staff (2020-07-18). "LFA 85 Results: Vanessa Demopoulos Claims Title in Style". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  11. ↑ Gonzalez, Gabriel (2020-07-25). "New LFA Champ Demopoulos to Compete at DWCS on August 11". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  12. ↑ "Dana White's Contender Series 28 results: All five winners score UFC deals". MMA Junkie. 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  13. ↑ "LFA 94 results: Lupita Godinez claims title from Vanessa Demopoulos in bloody affair". MMA Junkie. 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  14. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2021-03-27). "Carlyle, Demopoulos Score Quick Wins at LFA 103". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  15. ↑ Sherdog.com. "LFA 103 Highlight Video: Crystal Vanessa Demopoulos Destroys Cynthia Arceo". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  16. ↑ Gonzalez, Gabriel (2021-08-13). "Breaking: Demopoulos vs Paprocki at LFA 114 on August 27". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  17. ↑ "Injury knocks Tracy Cortez out of UFC on ESPN 30 fight vs. J.J. Aldrich". MMA Junkie. 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  18. ↑ 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.
  19. ↑ Bitter, Shawn (2021-08-28). "UFC Vegas 35 Results: JJ Aldrich Spoils Debut of Vanessa Demopoulos". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  20. ↑ Jamal Boussenaf (2021-10-19). "BREAKING: Ashley Yoder treft Vanessa Demopoulos op 15 januari". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  21. ↑ 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.
  22. ↑ DNA, MMA (2021-11-11). "Silvana Gomez Juarez vervangt Ashley Yoder tegen Vanessa Demopoulos op 15 januari". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  23. ↑ Gabriel Gonzalez (2022-01-12). "Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Silvana Juarez pushed back a week to UFC 270". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  24. ↑ Evanoff, Josh (2022-01-22). "UFC 270: Vanessa Demopoulos Survives Knockdown, Submits Silvana Gomez Juarez". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  25. ↑ "UFC news: Vanessa Demopoulos set to face Jinh Yu Frey at June 25 event". MMA Junkie. 2022-03-26. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  26. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2022-06-25). "UFC Vegas 57: Vanessa Demopoulos Earns Split Decision Over Game Jinh Yu Frey". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  27. ↑ Gonzalez, Gabriel (2022-08-23). "UFC: Vanessa Demopoulos vs Maria Oliveira Set for November 19". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  28. ↑ 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.
  29. ↑ Nowosielski, Tomasz (2023-02-19). "Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs Vanessa Demopoulos na UFC Fight Night 225 | MMAROCKS". MMA Rocks! (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  30. ↑ 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.
  31. ↑ 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.
  32. ↑ Anderson, Jay (19 July 2023). "UFC: Vanessa Demopoulos Draws Returning Kanako Murata on October 7". Cageside Press. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  33. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2023-10-07). "UFC Vegas 80: Kanako Murata Ends Lengthy Layoff, Loses Decision to Vanessa Demopoulos". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  34. ↑ "UFC books Vanessa Demopoulos vs. Emily Ducote for May Fight Night event". MMA Junkie. 10 February 2024.
  35. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2024-05-18). "UFC Vegas 92: Vanessa Demopoulos Takes Close Decision Over Emily Ducote Despite Injured Arm". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  36. ↑ Drake Riggs (2024-07-11). "Morning Report: Anthony Smith sad UFC 303 loss 'probably puts the nail in the coffin' for title hopes - Fight Announcements". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  37. ↑ Jay Anderson (2024-09-07). "UFC Vegas 97: Jaqueline Amorim Subs Vanessa Demopoulos, Who Complains of Glove Grab Foul". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  38. ↑ Neri Fung (2025-01-30). "Em busca de recuperação, Talita Alencar encara Vanessa Demopoulos no UFC Vegas 105". agfight.com. Retrieved 2025-01-30.(in Brazilian Portuguese)
  39. ↑ "Vanessa "Lil Monster" Demopoulos MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog . Retrieved 2022-04-13.
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