Yazmin Jauregui made a dominant return from a two-year injury layoff, finishing Vanessa Demopoulos in just 62 seconds with unanswered punches to open the prelims at UFC Fight Night 289 at the Meta APEX. The Performance of the Night bonus winner improved to 12-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC, while Demopoulos fell to 11-9 MMA, 5-6 UFC. Jauregui, who received a $100,000 bonus for the effort, also noted she earned her Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt two months prior to the fight.
Yazmin Jauregui wasted no time announcing her return to the octagon, stopping Vanessa Demopoulos in just 62 seconds with a flurry of unanswered punches to kick off the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 289 at the Meta APEX on September 29, 2026. The finish earned Jauregui a Performance of the Night bonus worth $100,000.
The 27-year-old Mexican standout, now 12-2 overall and 4-2 in the UFC, had been sidelined for two years before making this emphatic statement. Fighting out of Entram Gym, the five-foot-three Orthodox striker brings one of the most active outputs in the strawweight division, averaging 6.64 significant strikes per minute. Jauregui also revealed she had earned her Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt just two months before stepping back into competition, adding another weapon to an already dangerous arsenal.
Demopoulos, known as "Lil Monster," drops to 11-9 overall and 5-6 in the UFC with the loss. The 38-year-old American, representing Factory X, stands five-foot-two with a 59-inch reach and had built a reputation as a tough, durable competitor. She lands 3.37 significant strikes per minute and carries a submission threat, but had no answer for Jauregui's pace and power on this night.
Why it matters
- Jauregui's return from a two-year absence could not have gone better, instantly re-establishing her as a name to watch in the strawweight division.
- A $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus and a sub-minute finish will draw significant attention from the UFC matchmakers.
- The result pushes Demopoulos further below the .500 mark in the UFC, complicating her path to a meaningful divisional ranking.
- Jauregui's combination of elite striking volume and a newly earned black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu makes her a well-rounded threat heading into her next assignment.
