If you aren’t cheating, you aren’t trying.
UFC Vegas 97 was a memorable night for officiating woes. I mean, can they even be called that in 2024 when fouls go uncalled essentially on a fight-by-fight basis? Warnings are teased, points aren’t taken, and fighters can get away with practically whatever they want. That appeared to be the case again in the Strawweight battle between prospect, Jaqueline Amorim, and veteran, Vanessa Demopoulos, this past weekend (Sept. 7, 2024).
Brazil’s Amorim continued her winning streak of finishes with a third straight (9-1) when she scored a first round armbar over Demopoulos. However, directly before the finishing sequence, Demopoulos shouted out that her opponent was grabbing inside her gloves, which is a foul in the mixed martial arts (MMA) rule book, or supposed to be. Amorim went unpunished and the action continued as usual before the tap.
Amorim, 29, denied any wrongdoing in her finishing sequence, as Demopoulos claimed after the fight she’d appeal the loss to the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC). She reacted publicly today (Tues., Sept. 10, 2024).
Shithole sport. Jaqueline Amorim clearly cheating, hooking inside the gloves against one of my favorite fighters Vanessa Demopoulos, to get the finish. Absolute disgrace. pic.twitter.com/I7a20fZK4Z
— JJ Alejandro (@breakingyoun) September 7, 2024
Vanessa Demopoulos argued Jacqueline Amorim had her hands in her glove which lead to the eventual submission.
Amorim still secured the win. #UFCVegas97 pic.twitter.com/GK3FjO0nWV
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 7, 2024
“Don’t know what to say about this weekend other than how disappointed I am in others,” Demopoulos said in an Instagram post. “What you can never take away from me is my spirit, my will, and my faith. Back to sparring, back to training, and back to being the badass b*tch I always have been.
“Thank you to everyone who’s stuck up for me,” he continued. “Thank you to everyone who reached out to me personally. I truly love you guys. We all witnessed what happened, no need for me to explain what is so obvious in slow motion. On to more incredible things. Interesting journey. That’s the fun part about life. [three white heart emojis]”
The loss for Demopoulos snapped a questionable two-fight winning streak (11-6 overall) that saw her earn decision nods over now-ex-UFC fighters and Invicta Fighting Championship champions, Kanako Murata and Emily Ducote.