Popular YouTube personality IShowSpeed recently experienced the formidable skill of a Jiu-Jitsu black belt firsthand, submitting multiple times to a UFC strawweight contender.
Vanessa Demopoulos, a beloved UFC fighter celebrated for her unique journey from exotic dancer to professional cage combatant, engaged in a sparring session with Darren Watkins, famously known as IShowSpeed, during a training visit to the Performance Institute on a Friday evening.
Despite IShowSpeed`s reputation as a surprisingly capable athlete with various challenge victories against professionals, his venture into fighting a black belt did not unfold as he might have hoped. The seasoned strawweight expertly forced him to tap out three separate times.
IShowSpeed`s Vegas Encounter with Demopoulos at UFC PI
Continuing his extensive American road trip, IShowSpeed`s stop in Las Vegas included a visit to the UFC Performance Institute. During his tour, he met both Demopoulos and elite middleweight Caio Borralho, leading to the impromptu sparring.
Mindful of a previous challenging sparring session with lightweight contender Dan Hooker earlier in the year, Speed opted for a lighter spar with Demopoulos, who is currently navigating a three-fight losing streak in the octagon.
Demopoulos quickly took him to the ground, securing the first submission with a modified triangle choke. She briefly explored a leg lock but refrained from applying excessive force, reassuring Borralho that she would not injure him.
Demonstrating her versatile grappling, she effortlessly pulled guard, almost submitting him while he was still standing and holding her. She subsequently applied a head-and-arm choke and an armbar to conclude the session.
IShowSpeed Reacts: “She Could Have Broken Every Leg In My Body”
Following the intense session, a visibly stunned IShowSpeed spoke to his stream camera outside the gym, expressing his astonishment and suggesting Demopoulos could have “broken every leg in [his] body.”
Demopoulos, exhibiting good sportsmanship, later posted on Instagram: “IShowSpeed came to the PI to have some fun today. He admired that he lost. So much fun!!”
However, some fans observed in the comments that Demopoulos might have showcased her extensive black belt repertoire a bit aggressively for a beginner. One coach humorously questioned her technique: “All this wrestling training and you pull guard?!”
