Julian Erosa will retire from MMA after his fight against Jeong Yeong Lee at UFC Vegas 123 on October 31. The 37-year-old featherweight, a three-time UFC bonus winner with 18 UFC bouts, is looking to snap a two-fight losing skid. Erosa said he is stepping away to help with his mother's business after his wife moved back to Washington.
Julian Erosa will walk away from mixed martial arts after his fight with Jeong Yeong Lee at UFC Vegas 123 on October 31, as first reported by Bloody Elbow. The 37-year-old featherweight is looking to end his career with a win after dropping his last two fights.
Erosa said he is stepping away to help with his mother's business after his wife moved back to Washington. The decision closes a run that included 18 UFC bouts and three bonus awards.
The veteran
Erosa, known as "Juicy J," holds a record of 31-14-0 and fights out of Xtreme Couture. The American southpaw stands six-foot-one with a 74-inch reach, or 188 cm, and has built his UFC career on volume and a willingness to trade.
His numbers reflect that approach. Erosa lands 6.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and he averages 1.73 takedowns and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes. That blend of pressure striking and grappling threats helped him earn his three bonus checks.
Recent form
Erosa enters the finale on a two-fight skid. His most recent recorded fight came on March 28, 2026, when Lerryan Douglas stopped him by first-round KO/TKO at UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer. Before that, Melquizael Costa beat him by unanimous decision on May 17, 2025.
The losses followed a first-round KO/TKO win over Darren Elkins at UFC 314 on April 12, 2025. That means his two most recent recorded defeats came after a stoppage victory, and one of them ended inside a round.
Why it matters
- Erosa gets a chance to leave on a win rather than a third straight loss.
- At 37, he closes out a UFC tenure that spans 18 fights and three performance bonuses.
- His career totals of 31 wins and 14 losses put him among the more experienced names in the featherweight ranks.
Lee is the opponent for what Erosa has said will be his final bout. The fight takes place on October 31 at UFC Vegas 123.
