UFC"Lil Monster"Vanessa Demopoulos Record: 11-9-0
StrawweightRecord11-9-0
Age38
DivisionStrawweight · #72
MMA Elo1563
Last fightSep 26 2026
AdvertisementRemove ads — go Premium
Vanessa Demopoulos has a 11-9-0 professional record and is 38 years old in the Strawweight division, representing Factory X (1661 average active-roster Elo across 18 rated fighters). This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, MMA Elo, record, age, and opponent links.
Last updated Sep 26, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database
Vanessa Demopoulos bio
Personal background
Vanessa Demopoulos, the UFC strawweight known as "Lil Monster," was born on September 22, 1988, in Ohio, and traveled one of the more unconventional roads to the Octagon. Of Greek heritage, she spent part of her early life in Greece and has spoken openly about a turbulent youth before martial arts gave her structure and direction. She found the sport through Brazilian jiu-jitsu, where her submission instincts took root, and her well-documented background in pole dancing helped build the flexibility and body control that show up in her scrambles and submission entries. A compact 5'2" with a 59" reach, she now fights out of Factory X in the Denver area, the gym that has sharpened her striking to complement a grappling-first identity.
Path to the UFC
Demopoulos turned professional in 2017 and built her record largely on the Legacy Fighting Alliance circuit, where she became a fixture and a fan favorite. Her regional run was defined by her grappling: armbars, an inverted triangle, and gritty decision wins that showed she was as tough as she was technical. The losses came against future UFC talent – a 2020 Contender Series decision defeat to Cory McKenna and a five-round majority decision loss to Lupita Godinez in an LFA headliner – but a signature fourth-round inverted-triangle submission of unbeaten Sam Hughes in 2020 announced her as a strawweight worth watching. The UFC signed her in 2021.
UFC breakthrough
After a debut decision loss to JJ Aldrich in 2021, Demopoulos delivered the moment that defined her UFC arrival: a first-round armbar of Silvana Gómez Juárez at UFC 270 in January 2022, capped by an exuberant, viral celebration that made her one of the night's talking points. She backed it up with a split-decision win over veteran Jinh Yu Frey and a unanimous-decision victory over Maria Oliveira later in 2022, stacking three wins in a breakout year.
The strawweight grind
The deeper waters of the division proved demanding. A 2023 unanimous-decision loss to former title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz was followed by a bounce-back unanimous decision over Kanako Murata and a hard-fought split-decision win over Emily Ducote in May 2024. Since then she has hit a rough patch, dropping a first-round armbar to Jaqueline Amorim in September 2024 and consecutive decisions to Talita Alencar and Jamey-Lyn Horth in 2025, leaving her at 11-8 and looking to reset.
AdvertisementRemove ads — go Premium
Fighting style
Demopoulos is a grappler at heart, with four of her 11 wins by submission and a deep, opportunistic guard that turns scrambles into finishing chances – the armbar is her calling card. Her flexibility and willingness to attack off her back make her dangerous from positions other fighters consider losing ones. The trade-off is reflected in her record: eight of her losses have come by decision, pointing to the recurring challenge of out-pointing opponents over 15 minutes when she can't drag the fight to the mat. Durable, relentless and rarely finished by strikes, she is a tough, exciting out for anyone in the division even when the judges' math goes against her.
Career highlights
- Viral UFC 270 armbar — submitted Silvana Gómez Juárez in the first round and turned the celebration into one of the year's signature moments.
- Three-win breakout year — stacked victories over Gómez Juárez, Jinh Yu Frey and Maria Oliveira across 2022 to establish herself in the UFC.
- Submission of an unbeaten prospect — her fourth-round inverted-triangle finish of then-undefeated Sam Hughes in 2020 showcased the grappling that carried her to the UFC.
Career snapshot
Vanessa Demopoulos career snapshot
Elo · Professional MMAMMA Elo
1563Solid ratingElo trajectory (last 3 years)
Overall#2566
Women's Strawweight#72of 95 active
Peak1625
Last move-14
Opponent quality1624avg. pre-fight Elo · last 10
Career-high 1625 Elo after defeating Emily Ducote (2024-05-18)
Similar Elo in Women's Strawweight
Vanessa Demopoulos quick answers
What is Vanessa Demopoulos's record?
Vanessa Demopoulos's professional MMA record is 11-9-0.
How old is Vanessa Demopoulos?
Vanessa Demopoulos is 38 years old.
What weight class is Vanessa Demopoulos?
Vanessa Demopoulos fights at Strawweight in UFC.
What gym does Vanessa Demopoulos represent?
Vanessa Demopoulos is associated with Factory X, whose 18 active Combat Edge fighters average 1661 Elo.
How tall is Vanessa Demopoulos?
Vanessa Demopoulos is 5'2" tall with a 59" reach.
How much does Vanessa Demopoulos weigh?
Vanessa Demopoulos competes at Strawweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 115 lbs.
What is Vanessa Demopoulos's Combat Edge Elo?
Vanessa Demopoulos's professional MMA Elo is 1563, with a peak Elo of 1625.
How strong is Vanessa Demopoulos's recent opposition?
Vanessa Demopoulos's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1624 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.
When was Vanessa Demopoulos's last fight?
Vanessa Demopoulos's latest tracked pro fight was against Yazmin Jauregui at UFC Fight Night on Sep 26 2026.
What is Vanessa Demopoulos's recent form?
Vanessa Demopoulos's recent tracked pro form is L-L-L-L-W over the latest 5 decisive pro results.
How does Vanessa Demopoulos usually win?
Vanessa Demopoulos's 11 recorded wins include 1 knockouts, 4 submissions, and 6 decisions, with 45% ending before the final bell.
1Wins by knockout
4Wins by submission
6Wins by decision
1Loss by knockout
1Loss by submission
7Loss by decision
AdvertisementRemove ads — go Premium
Vanessa Demopoulos stats
Record : 11 / 9 / 0Tracked UFC statistics may not cover a fighter's full career. Unavailable measurements are not zero.
Significant strikes landed per minute
3.37Fighter3.99UFC strawweight avg
Significant striking accuracy
40%Fighter45%UFC strawweight avg
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
5.39Fighter4.06UFC strawweight avg
Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land
41%Fighter54%UFC strawweight avg
Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes
0.32Fighter1.39UFC strawweight avg
Takedown accuracy
0%Fighter32%UFC strawweight avg
Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land
26%Fighter59%UFC strawweight avg
Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes
0.43Fighter0.42UFC strawweight avg
Pro fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
Amateur fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
Loading comments…