Vanessa Demopoulos

Crystal Vanessa Demopoulos (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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Demopoulos faced Talita Alencar on April 5, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 65. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Replacing Tereza Bledá, who had to withdraw due to a staph infection, Demopoulos faced former LFA Women's Flyweight Champion Jamey-Lyn Horth on June 14, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 69. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Demopoulos is scheduled to face Yazmin Jauregui on September 26, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 289.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (One time) Legacy Fighting Alliance LFA Women's Strawweight Champion (one time; former)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Jamey-Lyn Horth Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Loss

Talita Alencar Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Emmett vs. Murphy

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Jaqueline Amorim Submission (armbar) UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Emily Ducote Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Kanako Murata Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Karolina Kowalkiewicz Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Maria Oliveira Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba

|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jinh Yu Frey Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Silvana Gómez Juárez Submission (armbar) UFC 270

Anaheim, California, United States Loss

JJ Aldrich Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Cynthia Arceo TKO (punches) LFA 103

Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Lupita Godinez Decision (majority) LFA 94

Park City, Kansas, United States Loss

Cory McKenna Decision (unanimous) Dana White's Contender Series 28

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Sam Hughes Technical Submission (inverted triangle choke) LFA 85

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States Win

Loveth Young Decision (unanimous) LFA 81

Costa Mesa, California, United States Win

Nadine Mandiau Submission (armbar) LFA 69

Cabazon, California, United States Win

Valerie Ann Marie Soto Decision (majority) LFA 62

Dallas, Texas, United States Loss

Itzel Esquivel Decision (unanimous) LFA 52

Belton, Texas, United States Win

Emme Weber Submission (armbar) IT Fight Series 79

Columbus, Ohio, United States