UFC on ESPN 38 will feature a lightweight bout in the main event. 11th-ranked Arman Tsarukyan is set to go up against 12th-ranked Mateusz Gamrot. In the co-main event, Neil Magny will go head to head against one of the most exciting prospects in the welterweight division, Shavkat Rakhmonov. It will also feature Umar Nurmagomedov on the main card.
But the event will kick off with a women’s strawweight bout between Vanessa Demopoulos and Jinh Yu Frey. Although neither fighter is ranked in the 115lbs division at the moment, it should be an entertaining bout to open the preliminary fight card. Demopoulos is coming off a submission win over Silvana Gomez Juarez, while Yu Frey beat Ashley Yoder in her last bout.
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In 2020, Jinh defeated Ashley Cummins at Invicta FC 39 in a rematch. Her unanimous victory got her into the UFC. Although she lost to Kay Hansen and Loma Lookboonmee in her first two UFC fights, Yu Frey made a good turnaround by beating Gloria de Paula and Ashley Yoder consecutively.
Nicknamed ‘Lil Monster,’ Vanessa Demopoulos had the chance to earn a UFC contract in 2020. She fought at Dana White‘s Contender Series against Cory McKenna. But the unanimous decision loss to Cory spoilt the opportunity. However, she finally came to the UFC in 2021. After losing to J.J. Aldrich on her debut, Vanessa got her first UFC win against Silvana Gomez Juarez at UFC 270.
UFC on ESPN 38 Prelims, Vanessa Demopoulos vs Jinh Yu Frey: Stats
| Stats | Vanessa Demopoulos | Jinh Yu Frey |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 7 | 11 |
| Losses | 4 | 6 |
| Height | 5’2 ft | 5’2 ft |
| Division | Women’s Strawweight | Women’s Strawweight |
| Reach | 59.5 in | 65 in |
| Age | 33 | 37 |
Vanessa Demopoulos vs Jinh Yu Frey: Fight Breakdown
If we look at the stats ahead of the bout, neither Vanessa Demopoulos nor Jinh Yu Frey’s record stands out in particular.
Fighting out of Texas, Yu Frey made her professional MMA debut in 2013. Since then, she has managed to knock out 1 of her opponents while she submitted 2. The rest of her 8 wins came via judges’ decisions. The 37-year-old does have decent grappling, but a majority of her fights take place on the feet.
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She averages 0.78 takedowns per fight while landing 2.86 strikes each minute. But her striking defence is not particularly good as she consumes 4.06 strikes per minute. Her opponent Vanessa Demopoulos also has a negative strike differential. She absorbs 4.63 strikes per minute while landing 3.02 strikes in the same period.
Although she is yet to attempt a single takedown, Demopoulos did have a submission win in her last bout. Despite being knocked down, Vanessa held her nerves and got the win.
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The contest between Jinh Yu Frey and Vanessa Demopoulos will be one that primarily occurs on the feet. Although Vanessa will be a submission threat on the mat, Yu Frey will have a more polished striking. In order to win the bout, Yu Frey will have to maintain her distance by staying on the outside and hitting her with strikes.
Taking the bout to the mat will be Demopoulos’ best chance of winning the bout. She has a better finishing rate on the ground. Hence the outcome will mainly depend on where it takes place.
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