Murata vs Demopoulos

Who won Murata vs Demopoulos?

Vanessa Demopoulos beat Kanako Murata by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest during the prelims of UFC Fight Night – Green vs Dawson, on Saturday 7th October 2023 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The scorecards were announced in favor of the winner Vanessa Demopoulos.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 3 rounds in the Women’s Strawweight division, which meant the weight limit was 115 pounds (8.2 stone or 52.2 KG).

Murata vs Demopoulos stats

Kanako Murata stepped into the octagon with a record of 12 wins, 2 losses and 0 draws, 2 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 4 by submission.

Vanessa Demopoulos made her way to the cage with a record of 9 wins, 5 losses and 0 draws, 1 of those win coming by knock out and 4 by submission.

Vanessa Demopoulos marked her 8th fight for them, having made her own debut for the promotion in 2021.

Kanako Murata's UFC record stood at 1-2-0, while Vanessa Demopoulos' came in at 5-3-0.

The stats suggested Murata had a slight advantage in power over Demopoulos, with a 17% knock out percentage over Demopoulos' 11%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Demopoulos had an advantage over Murata, with a 44% submission rate over Murata's 33%.

Kanako Murata was the younger woman by 5 years, at 31 years old.

Demopoulos had a height advantage of 1 inch over Murata. Despite this, she had a 3-inch reach advantage.

Murata's experience as a professional fighter was relatively equal to Demopoulos', having had the same amount of fights, and made her debut in 2016, 1 year and 7 months earlier than Demopoulos, whose first professional fight was in 2017. She had fought 6 less professional rounds, 38 to Demopoulos' 44.

Murata vs Demopoulos form

Vanessa Demopoulos had beaten 4 of her last 5 opponents.

In her last fight leading up to this contest, she had lost to Lupita Godinez at LFA 94 on 30th October 2020 by majority decision in their LFA Women’s Strawweight championship fight at Hartman Arena, Park City, United States.

Previous to that, she had won against Sam Hughes at LFA 85 on 17th July 2020 by submission in the 4th round in their LFA Women’s Strawweight championship fight at Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls.

Going into that contest, she had beaten Loveth Young at LFA 81 on 31st January 2020 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa.

Before that, she had defeated Nadine Mandiau at LFA 69 on 7th June 2019 by submission in the 1st round at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon.

She was victorious against Valerie Ann Marie Soto at LFA 62 on 22nd March 2019 by majority decision in their 3 round contest at The Bomb Factory, Dallas.

Activity check

Murata's last 4 fights had come over a period of 6 years, 8 months and 28 days, meaning she had been fighting on average every 1 year, 8 months and 8 days. In those fights, she fought a total of 7 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 1.8 rounds on average.

Demopoulos' last 5 fights had come over a period of 5 years, 10 months and 12 days, meaning she had been fighting on average every 1 year, 2 months and 5 days. In those fights, she fought a total of 16 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 3.2 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Murata vs Demopoulos?

Kanako Murata was a 7/25 (-360) favourite going into the contest, while Vanessa Demopoulos made her way into the ring at 11/4 (+280) with oddsmakers.