Julian Erosa Retires After 91-Second Knockout and $100K UFC Bonus
Julian Erosa ended his UFC career with a stunning first-round knockout, a $100,000 bonus and a memorable farewell inside the Octagon.
Julian Erosa couldn’t have scripted a much better ending to his MMA career.
The 37-year-old UFC featherweight veteran retired following a 91-second knockout of Jeong Yeong Lee at UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Nolan on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Erosa survived an early scare before landing the finishing punch at 1:31 of the opening round. His performance earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus, allowing him to walk away from the sport with one final victory and a six-figure payday.
Julian Erosa Ends Two-Fight Losing Streak With Knockout
Erosa entered his retirement fight looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats.
He suffered a unanimous decision loss to Melquizael Costa in May 2025 before being stopped by Lerryan Douglas in the first round in March 2026.
Before those setbacks, Erosa had put together consecutive finishes, submitting Christian Rodriguez with a guillotine choke in July 2024 and stopping Darren Elkins by first-round TKO at UFC 314 in April 2025.
His victory over Lee gave him three wins in his final five UFC appearances, with all three coming by stoppage.
The farewell fight nearly took a different turn when Lee hurt Erosa early. However, the veteran recovered and delivered a knockout punch that ended the contest in just 91 seconds.
Why Julian Erosa Decided to Retire
Despite his impressive victory, Erosa had already decided to retire before stepping into the Octagon.
The veteran explained that becoming a father changed his priorities, with his family and long-term health playing significant roles in his decision.
‘When I had my son, my priorities switched around,’ Erosa said, explaining why he decided to walk away from fighting.
Rather than continue competing and risk further damage, Erosa chose to focus on his family and life outside the Octagon.
After entering the night on a two-fight losing streak, Erosa closed his UFC career with a knockout victory and a $100,000 bonus, ending his time in the sport on his own terms.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.