Josh Demas is quickly becoming a household name following his appearance on the hit Netflix reality show, Love is Blind 2023. The rising star is garnering attention for his impressive MMA record and background in wrestling, making him a formidable opponent in the cage.
Early Life and Wrestling Career
Josh Demas was born on June 12, 1991, in Tempe, Arizona. He began wrestling in high school, where he quickly made a name for himself as a two-time state champion in Ohio. Demas went on to wrestle at Ohio State University, earning All-American honors in 2012 and 2013.
Accomplishments in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
In addition to his wrestling background, Demas is also an accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner. He showcased his skills in the IBJJF no-gi World Championships in 2019, where he came in second place.
Demas also auditioned for FloGrappling’s version of The Ultimate Fighter, called Who’s Next: Submission Fighter Challenge, where he unfortunately suffered a submission loss in the first round.
MMA Record
Despite the setback, Demas remains determined to make his mark in the MMA world. He currently holds a record of 2-1 in amateur MMA bouts, with his last taking place in 2017 against John Blangiardo at GF 29.
Since his appearance on Love is Blind, Demas has returned to the cage, looking to pick up where he left off.
Passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
In an interview on FloGrappling’s reality show, Who’s Next: Submission Fighter Challenge, Demas revealed his passion for Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
He recounted his journey from collegiate wrestling to jiu-jitsu, stating that he was encouraged to try the sport by a fellow martial artist he met while training Muay Thai in Thailand. Demas entered a tournament when he returned to L.A. and placed second in the blue belt division.
So I went out to Thailand. I was training Muay Thai out there at Tiger Muay Thai. And I met Craig Jones’ brother, Adam Jones. He was like, ‘Man you should really get into jiu-jitsu.’ And the rest is history, I decided to enter a tournament when I got back to L.A. and I ended up taking second in blue belt. I like a challenge, I’ve been surrounded by world class athletes all through wrestling and it’s nothing new to me…”
He attributed his success to his love for a challenge and his experience training with world-class athletes in wrestling.