Julian Erosa will retire from MMA following his October 31 bout against Jeong Yeong Lee at UFC Vegas 123. The decision means the fight with Lee will be the final appearance of Erosa's career.
Julian Erosa has decided to walk away from MMA, and his October 31 fight against Jeong Yeong Lee at UFC Vegas 123 will be the last of his career.
Erosa, a 37-year-old featherweight from the United States who trains out of Xtreme Couture, goes into the finale with a 31-14-0 record. Nicknamed "Juicy J," the southpaw stands six-foot-one (185 cm) with a 74-inch (188 cm) reach, a frame he has used to build a high-output, well-rounded game.
The numbers show a fighter who has been busy on every front. Erosa lands 6.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He also averages 1.73 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.7 submission attempts over the same span, a mix that has made him a threat on the feet and the mat.
His recent form is a mixed picture. His most recent recorded fight came on March 28, 2026, when he lost by first-round KO/TKO to Lerryan Douglas at UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer. Before that, he dropped a unanimous decision to Melquizael Costa on May 17, 2025. In between, he earned a first-round KO/TKO win over Darren Elkins at UFC 314 on April 12, 2025. That leaves him with two losses in his last three recorded bouts heading into the farewell.
The retirement is not framed as a rumour. Erosa will step away from the sport after the bout with Lee, making the October 31 card in Las Vegas his final appearance in the cage.
Why it matters
- Career closure: Erosa ends a run that produced 31 wins, a total that places him among the more experienced featherweights on the roster.
- Planned exit: Rather than fading out after a loss, he is getting a scheduled send-off on a UFC Fight Night card.
- Stylistic stakes: His volume striking and takedown output give him tools to go out with a win against Lee, though the recent stoppage loss to Douglas shows the risk he carries into any exchange.
For Lee, the matchup carries an added edge: he will be the opponent who either spoils or delivers a veteran's farewell.
