Julian Erosa

Background The son of Ricardo and Debbie Erosa, Julian was born in Seattle, Washington but moved to Yakima growing up. Julian has a younger brother, Ricky. Growing up Julian was an avid skateboarder and snowboarder.

Mixed martial arts career Early career After going 10–0 as an amateur, Erosa began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2010. He fought primarily in the Pacific Northwest region, mostly in the CageSport promotion. After racking up 7–0 record, he faced Ryan Mulvihill in a rematch for the vacant CageSport Featherweight Championship at CageSport 19 on April 28, 2012.

After losing the title, Erosa went 3–1 before receiving a title shot for the vacant CageSport (in a prevailing collaboration with Super Fight League) Lightweight Championship. He faced Harrison Bevens at SFL America 2 on December 13, 2014 and claimed the title via knockout. Subsequently, he was pitted against Drew Brokenshire in a rematch for the vacant CageSport Featherweight Championship at SFL America 3 on February 21, 2015. He avenged the previous loss and became simultaneous two-division champion via third-round submission.

The Ultimate Fighter Erosa was then picked to be a part of The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber, in which he advanced from the preliminary fights by defeating Jason Soares via unanimous decision.

In the elimination round, Erosa faced Mehdi Baghdad. Erosa won the fight via majority decision, advancing into quarter-finals where he took on Abner Lloveras. Erosa advanced to the semi-finals via a split decision victory.

In the semi-finals Erosa met the season's would-be runner-up Artem Lobov. He was eliminated from the tournament via first-round knockout loss.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Despite being eliminated from the tournament, Erosa signed a contract with the UFC and made his promotional debut against fellow The Ultimate Fighter alumni Marcin Wrzosek at The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber Finale on December 11, 2015. Erosa won the fight via split decision.

He would then face Teruto Ishihara at UFC 196 on March 5, 2016. Erosa lost the fight via second-round knockout and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Return to Cagesport and Other Organizations

After his release from the UFC, went on to fight at a variety of organizations, including Prime Fighting, where he would win the Featherweight title with a TKO win over Austin Springer, as well as losing to Paddy Pimblett in the Cage Warriors Featherweight title fight, in a highly controversial unanimous decision. He would then return to Cage Sports, where he would win back the Lightweight title and defend it again against Justin Harrington, before losing it in a TKO loss to Bobby McIntyre. He would have a one fight stint GKO, winning his only fight by TKO, before returning to Cagesports and winning back the Lightweight title against Bryan Nuro, in a unanimous decision. He would fight on Dana White's Contender Series 11, and although he won the fight against Jamall Emmers by knockout, he was not offered a UFC contract.

Return to UFC

Although he did not earn a direct contract after his DWCS fight, Erosa was signed to fight against fellow DWCS alumni Devonte Smith at UFC Fight Night 139. He lost the fight via knockout in round one.

Erosa faced Grant Dawson on March 9, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 146. He lost the fight via unanimous decision and was briefly released from the promotion.

Erosa was offered a quick return to face Julio Arce on May 18, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 151, despite being released from the promotion after the previous loss. He lost the fight via knockout in the third round and was released once again.

After the release, Erosa picked up one win in his native CageSport and was brought back as a late replacement for Kyle Nelson, who had visa issues, against Sean Woodson at UFC on ESPN 12. He won the fight via D'arce choke in the third round.

Erosa faced Nate Landwehr on February 20, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 185. He won the fight via technical knockout in round one.

Erosa faced Seung Woo Choi on June 19, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 25. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Erosa replaced Lerone Murphy on short notice against Charles Jourdain on September 4, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 191. He won the fight via a submission in round three.

Erosa faced Steven Peterson on February 5, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 200. At the weigh-ins, Peterson weighed in at 149 pounds, three pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Peterson was fined 30% of his purse, which will go to his opponent. Erosa won the fight via split decision. 13 out of 18 media scores gave it to Erosa. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award and also Peterson's bonus due to his weight miss.

Erosa faced Hakeem Dawodu on September 10, 2022 at UFC 279. At the weigh-ins, Dawodu weighed in at 149.5 pounds, 3.5 pounds over the non-title featherweight limit. Dawodu was fined 30% of his purse, which will go to his opponent Erosa. Erosa won the fight via unanimous decision.

Erosa faced Alex Caceres on December 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 216. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.

Erosa faced Fernando Padilla on April 29, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 45. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.

Erosa faced Ricardo Ramos on March 23, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 53. He won the fight with a guillotine choke submission in the first round.

Erosa faced Christian Rodriguez on July 13, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 59. He won the fight again by a guillotine choke submission in the first round.

Erosa faced Darren Elkins on April 12, 2025 at UFC 314. He won the fight by technical knockout in the first round.

Erosa faced Melquizael Costa on May 17, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 256. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. This fight earned him another Fight of the Night award.

Erosa faced promotional newcomer Lerryan Douglas on March 28, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 271. He lost the fight by knockout in the first round.

Erosa is scheduled to face Lee Jeong-yeong on October 31, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 292.

Personal life Erosa has been married to Alaina Evans since mid-2016. He is non-religious. CageSport CageSport Featherweight Champion (two times) CageSport Lightweight Champion (three times) MMA Mania 2025 #5 Ranked Fight of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Lerryan Douglas KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer

Seattle, Washington, United States Loss

Melquizael Costa Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Darren Elkins TKO (elbow and punches) UFC 314

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Christian Rodriguez Submission (guillotine choke) UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez

Denver, Colorado, United States Win

Ricardo Ramos Submission (guillotine choke) UFC on ESPN: Ribas vs. Namajunas

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Fernando Padilla TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Alex Caceres TKO (head kick and punches) UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Hakeem Dawodu Decision (unanimous) UFC 279

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Steven Peterson Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Charles Jourdain Submission (brabo choke) UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Till

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Choi Seung-woo KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: The Korean Zombie vs. Ige

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Nate Landwehr TKO (flying knee) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Sean Woodson Submission (brabo choke) UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

AJ Bryant Submission (bulldog choke) CageSport 60

Tacoma, Washington, United States Loss

Julio Arce KO (head kick) UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee

Rochester, New York, United States Loss

Grant Dawson Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos

Wichita, Kansas, United States Loss

Devonte Smith KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: The Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez

Denver, Colorado, United States Win

Jamall Emmers KO (head kick and punches) Dana White's Contender Series 11

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Bryan Nuro Decision (unanimous) CageSport 48

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Erick Sánchez TKO (punches) Global Knockout 11

Jackson, California, United States Loss

Bobby McIntyre TKO (punches) CageSport 46

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Justin Harrington KO (knees and punches) CageSport 45

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Justin Harrington Submission (triangle choke) CageSport 44

Tacoma, Washington, United States Loss

Paddy Pimblett Decision (unanimous) Cage Warriors: Unplugged 1

London, England Win

Austin Springer TKO (punches) Prime Fighting 8

Ridgefield, Washington, United States Win

Daniel Swain TKO (doctor stoppage) KOTC: Battle Zone

Worley, Idaho, United States Loss

Teruto Ishihara KO (punches) UFC 196

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Marcin Wrzosek Decision (split) The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Drew Brokenshire Submission (brabo choke) CageSport 34

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Harrison Bevens KO (knee) CageSport 33

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Ryan Mulvihill Submission (triangle choke) KOTC: Seek and Destroy

Worley, Idaho, United States Win

Mike Joy TKO (punches) CageSport 29

Tacoma, Washington, United States Loss

Lee Morrison Decision (unanimous) CageSport 25

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Jason Gybels Submission (triangle choke) CageSport 24

Tacoma, Washington, United States Loss

Drew Brokenshire Decision (unanimous) CageSport 22

Fife, Washington, United States Win

Jason Gybels KO (punch) CageSport 21

Fife, Washington, United States Win

Ryan Mulvihill Submission (armbar) CageSport 19

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Jerome Jones Submission (armbar) CageSport 18

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Matt Coble Submission (rear-naked choke) CageSport 17

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Ernesto Toscano Decision (unanimous) CageSport 16

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

John Martinez TKO (punches) Lords of the Cage 12

Yakima, Washington, United States Win

Ryan Mulvihill Submission (brabo choke) CageSport 14

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Omar Avelar Submission (armbar) CageSport 13

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Angel Diaz KO (punches) CageSport 12

Tacoma, Washington, United States Loss

Artem Lobov TKO (punches)

Win

Abner Lloveras Decision (split)

Win

Mehdi Baghdad Decision (majority)

Win

Jason Soares Decision (unanimous)