From Stripper to Fighter: Vanessa Demopoulos Unveils Bold Tales Ahead of UFC Vegas 73 Showdown

Strawweight fighter ‘Lil Monster’ is on an impressive three-fight win streak as she gears up for her upcoming match against Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC Vegas 73 on Saturday night.

Demopoulos, known for her vibrant personality and unique celebration that involves jumping into the arms of UFC commentators Joe Rogan and Michael Bisping, has garnered a wave of new fans during her recent string of victories.

However, Demopoulos had a challenging journey to reach this point. The 34-year-old made the decision to leave her stripping career behind in order to fully focus on her MMA goals, which she committed to before UFC 270 last year.

“I’ve always been a tough cookie. I used to fight a lot when I was in school, and I actually got kicked out of a lot of schools for fighting when I was young,” Demopoulos revealed to talkSPORT.

“When I turned 18, I started dancing as a stripper, as a pole dancer, and then someone saw me in the club and said, ‘If you put that same skill that you put towards pole dancing into fighting, you might do something with it.‘”

Intrigued by the idea, she eagerly embraced the opportunity, stating, “So, I was like, ‘Cool. Teach me how to fight.’ That was when I was 21 years old, and I never looked back. I loved it!“

Demopoulos dedicated herself to training, spending hours in the gym, often training three to four times a day. Balancing her demanding training schedule with her night job wasn’t easy, but she was determined to succeed.

“It’s like a cardio-gymnastic session for six-to-eight hours at a time. It was really wild. Yeah, the two contrasting lifestyles were something else, for sure,” she reflected.

Interestingly, Demopoulos found that her MMA skills came in handy during her time as a stripper, particularly when dealing with customers who attempted to take advantage of her.

“I’ve had to choke a couple of guys unconscious at work, you know,” she chuckled. “They would try to run off on me without paying me or something and didn’t know they were messing with the wrong chick. They’d end up waking up and politely giving me my money.”

In a way, she became a bouncer of sorts, earning the respect of her fellow employees. “The bouncers said they didn’t have to worry about me because I was gonna handle my business.”

Making the decision to leave behind her stripping career, which had been her source of income for years, was not an easy one for Demopoulos. However, she knew she had to back herself and follow her dreams.

“This is my dream, and I get to chase them now. I didn’t have the financial means at the time when I walked away, and I was really scared, honestly,” Demopoulos admitted.

“I believed in myself, and I trusted my skillset. I trusted myself, and I knew that I was going to be able to make something of this. I didn’t want to split my effort anymore.”

She concluded with determination, “One day I will be the champion, and I’m working towards that. I know that in my heart, in my soul. I work for that every single day. This is all I think about.”

As Vanessa Demopoulos looks back on her remarkable journey from the pole to the octagon, she prepares for her biggest challenge yet. The talented fighter will step into the cage against former title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC Vegas 73. With her sights set on securing her most significant victory to date, Demopoulos is eager to showcase her skills on Saturday, May 20, 2023.

The highly anticipated showdown will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Fighting on the prelims, Demopoulos’s match will be aired live on ESPN+ starting from 4:00 PM EST. With her determination and passion driving her, Demopoulos aims to make a statement in the octagon, proving that her journey from stripping to MMA has been one of grit, perseverance, and unwavering dedication.

Don’t miss this thrilling clash between Vanessa Demopoulos and Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC Vegas 73, as these fierce competitors leave it all on the line in their quest for victory.