Popular Social Media Influencer IShowSpeed Humbled By UFC Fighter Vanessa Demopoulos

Social media influencer IShowSpeed found out at the WWE’s Royal Rumble this year just how hard it is to be a professional athlete. Evidently, he did not learn his lesson. Earlier this week, he visited a UFC training facility and learned that lesson all over again, courtesy of fighter Vanessa Demopoulos.

IShowSpeed At The Royal Rumble

Back in February, IShowSpeed was filming footage backstage at the Royal Rumble. Entrant #8, Akira Tazawa, was attacked and taken out of action by the exiting Carmello Hayes before ever getting into the ring. Triple H told the social media influencer that he was taking Tazawa’s spot and to get down to the ring.

Speed made his way to the ring and helped Bron Breakker eliminate Alpha Academy’s Otis. Speed celebrated with a backflip before getting cut in half by a running spear from Breakker. Breakker then hefted the influencer over his head and threw him over the top rope onto Otis, who was standing on the floor. Otis caught Speed, then executed a fall-away slam, throwing the limp body of Speed over the announce table. The influencer left the event with a gash in his leg and the worst headache of his life.

Schooled By Demopoulos

Fast forward to earlier this week. IShowSpeed visited the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada. After talking with former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira as the fighter prepared for his rematch with Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320 next weekend, Speed toured the facility and eventually decided he wanted to spar. Enter 5’2″, 115-pound strawweight fighter Demopoulos, who is 5-5 in UFC competition. Speed stepped into the octagon with the 37-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and quickly regretted it.

Ishowspeed was submitted by Vanessa Demopoulos 👀 pic.twitter.com/T4omkyxV05

— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) September 26, 2025

Demopoulos, nicknamed “Lil’ Monster,” made quick work of the 20-year-old influencer. Despite not locking on her submission holds at full strength, she submitted him multiple times, using different holds each time. Demopoulos used a gogoplata, a version of a heel hook (above), and finally a mounted double wristlock/kimura.

Afterward, IShowSpeed could be heard yelling, “Things can’t be happening right now…no way it’s this hard!” The influencer recorded his experience at the UFC Performance Institute for his Live Speedy YouTube channel, where he has 15.2 million subscribers. His main account has over 44.5 million subscribers.

Speed Goes Pro

The moral of the story is that there is a stark difference between being an athlete and being a professional athlete. So many fans watch WWE, UFC, MLB, the NFL, or the NBA and say, “I can do that.” IShowSpeed continues to learn that there is a lot more to the sports you see on television than the average person thinks. He will keep learning, too. The influencer is teaming with Dick’s Sporting Goods to produce a new YouTube show called “Speed Goes Pro.”

Speed will train with the likes of Randy Orton, Joey Chestnut, Tom Brady, Kevin Durant, and Suni Lee to see if he has what it takes to master those athletes’ sports. The show will be narrated by Liev Schreiber and follow the influencer’s attempts to be a pro-level wrestler, competitive eater, football player, basketball player, and gymnast. “Speed Goes Pro” is set to premiere on September 30 on his main YouTube channel. It is safe to say Speed learned this week that he is not ready for the UFC anytime soon.