YouTube and Twitch phenomenon, Darren Watkins Jr., better known to his 40 million subscribers as IShowSpeed found out the best way possible that a Jiu-Jitsu black belt is more than just a stylish belt wrap. While streaming from the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, Speed exchanged gloves with UFC strawweight contender Vanessa Demopoulos and found out in short order why you don’t roll with her on a casual basis.
Demopoulos, who fans lovingly called out the “Lil Monster,” swapped out a career as an exotic dancer for perhaps the most grueling profession on earth: battling within the Octagon. On Friday night, Speed and all who watched were reminded that opting out of the pole and onto the cage was not an act, but determination.
Three Taps, No Victories
It wasn’t long before Speed found himself caught in Demopoulos’ trap. She took him down with a tight triangle choke on her first sub of the evening, with him having nowhere to go but to submit. A leg lock followed, which wasn’t going to break anything major, she warned him. Next was an armbar with Demopoulos grinning from ear-to-ear and Speed struggling, and ending him with a choking head-and-arm choke.
When their session concluded, Speed was flabbergasted. On camera, he admitted Demopoulos could have broken “every leg in my body” if she had attempted it. The over-the-top “every leg” verbal slip just added to the hilarity of the moment to his fans back in the chat room, who deluged the room with astonishment.
Social Media in a Chokehold
Highlights from the sparring bout illuminated X (Twitter) with responses ranging from effervescent to brutally harsh:
- “She almost hyperextended his elbows and broke his arms!
- “That chokehold put him second-guessing the entire decision to play football.”
- “They darn near had a baby” at 2 minutes 50 second.
- “Bro if she wanted to she could’ve killed him with her bare hands”
One fan just asked the question everybody wanted to ask: Was he holding back? Or just plain bodied?
Demopoulos’ Victory Tour
Whereas Speed maintained pride, Demopoulos was gracious. She posted on Instagram, “IShowSpeed came to the PI to have some fun today. He admired that he lost. So much fun!!”
It wasn’t redemption on a three-fight losing skid’s night in the UFC. It was all about revealing the skill set that gained her entry in the division with the sport’s greatest level of skill and confronting a streamer who enjoys anarchy with a reality check that he’ll never forget.
