Erosa On MMA Career After UFC Vegas 123 Knockout

Julian Erosa closed out his MMA career Saturday night with a first-round stoppage of Jeong Yeong Lee at UFC Vegas 123. The featherweight's final appearance delivered the kind of finish he hoped for after spending a decade cycling through the UFC, The Ultimate Fighter, and Dana White's Contender Series.

The fight opened with chaos when Lee landed a sharp left hook seconds after the fighters touched gloves. Erosa absorbed the shot and later acknowledged his corner flagged it as questionable. Speaking to BJPENN.com's Just Scrap Radio, he said the early trouble caught him unprepared but placed responsibility on himself for dropping his hands. "You do have to protect yourself at all times," he said, per the outlet.

Erosa's Career Closure After 45 Pro Fights

He regrouped quickly and landed a right hand that ended the bout. Across 45 professional contests, Erosa said only twice has he connected with a right that produced an immediate finish. The sequence gave him the kind of back-and-forth drama he prefers over a routine decision victory.

The 35-year-old told BJPENN.com he feels satisfied with what he accomplished over more than ten years of fighting. He acknowledged he could likely win more bouts if he continued but said proving himself mattered more than chasing additional paydays. Erosa plans to relocate to Washington state to work in his family's business and pursue snowboarding and running in his post-competition life.

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• BJPenn — Julian Erosa ‘content’ with MMA career after UFC Vegas 123 knockout win: ‘I’ve proven myself’