Julian Erosa Announces Retirement Fight at UFC Vegas 123
The 37-year-old featherweight veteran says his Halloween night bout against Jeong Yeong Lee will be his final walk to the Octagon.
Julian Erosa will make his final walk to the Octagon this Saturday night. The 37-year-old featherweight veteran quietly announced that his bout against Jeong Yeong Lee at UFC Vegas 123 on October 31 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas will be his last professional fight.
"I haven't really made it a big deal, but this will be my last fight," Erosa told Fanatics View.
Erosa, who carries a 31-14 professional record and a 9-9 mark inside the UFC, has been a mainstay on the regional and promotional circuit for more than 15 years. He first appeared on Season 22 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2015, won his debut at the TUF 22 Finale, and was released after a loss at UFC 196. He earned his way back through Dana White's Contender Series in 2018 with a head kick knockout of Jamall Emmers, was cut again after three straight losses, and returned for good in 2020. Along the way, he picked up three post-fight bonuses.
Erosa said he set a firm retirement date because he knows himself well enough to keep going otherwise. A win would make him want to fight again. A loss would leave him chasing redemption.
"The order of things that are important in my life has switched a little bit after having my son," Erosa said. "Fighting used to be my life, and now I have other things that are on top of that."
His opponent, Jeong Yeong Lee, will look to spoil the farewell on the UFC Vegas 123 card headlined by Renato Moicano vs. Carlos Nolan.
Erosa is the kind of fighter who never got the spotlight but always brought it. Three UFC stints, two releases, a Contender Series knockout to claw his way back, and 45 professional fights across 15 years. That's a career, man. Not every fighter gets to be a champion, but Erosa showed up, threw hands, and earned his bonuses the hard way.
Setting a firm date is the smartest thing he could do. Too many fighters say "one more" until the sport takes something from them they can't get back. Erosa wants to leave on his own terms with his health intact for his kid. I respect that more than another title run. Go get that W on Halloween, Juicy J.
