I was a stripper who choked punters when they didn’t pay – now I’m a UFC star chasing his world title dream

UFC star Vanessa Demopoulos used her MMA skills to smother unruly customers during her years as a stripper.

“Lil Monster” has won four of his last five fights heading into a strawweight clash with Emily Ducote at UFC Vegas 92 on Saturday night.

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During his recent good form, Demopoulos has gained a legion of new fans thanks to his exciting personality and signature celebration.

Demopoulos went viral by jumping into the arms of UFC commentators Joe Rogan, Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping before post-fight interviews.

However, it’s been a long road to get here for the 35-year-old who only stopped stripping to fully focus on achieving her 2022 goals.

“I’ve always been a tough guy,” Demopoulos told talkSPORT.com in May 2023.

“I fought a lot when I was at school and was kicked out of many schools for fighting when I was young.

“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 in the fight the same skills you put into pole dancing, you could do something with it.’

“So I was like, ‘Cool. Teach me to fight. That was when I was 21 and I’ve never looked back. I liked it!

Although juggling both careers hasn’t always been easy, Demopoulos says her MMA skills came in handy when unsuspecting customers tried to rob her.

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She added with a chuckle, “I’ve had to choke a few guys unconscious at work, you know.” »

“They were trying to run away from me without paying me or something and didn’t know they were going after the wrong girl. They would eventually wake up and politely give me my money.

“It was very cool. So, I acted as a bouncer at work. The bouncers said they didn’t have to worry about me because I would handle my own business.

Demopoulos took a major risk in giving up a lucrative career to focus on MMA, but it paid off and she now hopes to move up the 115-pound division, currently led by Weili Zhang.

“This is my dream and I can pursue them now. I didn’t have the financial means at the time I left and I was really scared, honestly,” Demopoulos said.

“I had confidence in myself and I had confidence in my skills. I had confidence in myself and I knew I was going to be able to do something with it. I didn’t want to divide my efforts anymore.

“One day I will be the champion and I am working towards it. I know it in my heart, in my soul. I work for this every day. That’s all I think about.”