Julian Erosa says his upcoming fight against Jeong Yeong Lee at Meta APEX on Saturday, October 31, will be his last, ending a career that has stretched nearly 16 years and included three separate UFC stints.
Erosa, who is 37, said the decision is tied to family priorities and his desire to step away from fighting while he still has his health intact. He said he has not made the move a major public event, but the matchup with Lee will serve as his retirement fight regardless of the result.
A long UFC journey
Erosa’s path back to the UFC has been anything but linear. On March 5, 2016, he lost to Teruto Ishihara by second-round KO and was released by the UFC. He rebuilt his career outside the promotion and then won his way back into the spotlight.
That comeback stretch included a stoppage win over Justin Harrington on February 25, 2017, to capture the CageSport featherweight championship, followed by another title milestone on December 16, 2017, when he became CageSport’s lightweight champion. On June 26, 2018, Erosa knocked out Jamall Emmmers at Dana White's Contender Series 11 and returned to the UFC.
His second UFC run did not last forever, though. After three consecutive losses, the UFC released him again. Erosa again regrouped on the regional scene, stopping AJ Bryant in CageSport on February 22, 2020, before earning another UFC return at UFC Vegas 4 on June 27, 2020.
Why he is walking away now
Erosa said he wanted one more chance to get his hand raised, but he also wanted a clear finish line. He explained that once a fighter keeps going without setting a date, the urge to compete can make it difficult to stop. For him, this is about drawing that line in advance.
He also pointed to the natural wear of time. Erosa said he is 37 and getting tired, and he noted that the younger generation in the gym has more energy and keeps improving. Even so, his goal is not simply to leave the sport, but to leave it with his health intact.
That gives Saturday’s fight a different feel. It is still a UFC matchup, but it also carries the finality of a veteran’s last walk to the cage. Win or lose, Erosa says this one will be his last.
