# Julian Erosa

Julian Ricardo Dulican Erosa (born July 31, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Erosa is also a former CageSport Featherweight and Lightweight Champion.

## 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. During his skateboarding years, he frequently got into fights and eventually drifted into mixed martial arts in his late teens. He graduated from Eisenhower High School and followed his mother's footsteps by studying accounting for a couple of years in Central Washington University before dropping out.

## 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. He won the title but was not able to defend it in a match against Drew Brokenshire at CageSport 22 on December 1, 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: The Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez. He lost the fight via knockout in round one.
Erosa faced Grant Dawson on March 9, 2019 at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos. 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: Poirier vs. Hooker. He won the fight via D'arce choke in the third round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Erosa faced Nate Landwehr on February 20, 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis. 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: Song vs. Simón. 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 is scheduled to face Darren Elkins on April 12, 2025 at UFC 314.

## Personal life

Erosa has been married to Alaina Evans since mid-2016. He is non-religious. His son was born on March 15, 2024.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Sean Woodson
** Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Steven Peterson
** UFC.com Awards
*** 2020: Ranked #3 Upset of the Year vs. Sean Woodson
* CageSport
** CageSport Featherweight Champion (two times)
** CageSport Lightweight Champion (three times)
*** One title defense (second reign)
* Prime Fighting
** Prime Fighting Featherweight Champion (one time)
* MMAjunkie.com
** 2021 Submission of the Month vs. Charles Jourdain

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 41 matches | 30 wins | 11 losses |
| By knockout | 11 | 7 |
| By submission | 14 | 0 |
| By decision | 5 | 4 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 30–11 | Christian Rodriguez | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez | July 13, 2024 | 1 | 4:49 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 29–11 | Ricardo Ramos | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on ESPN: Ribas vs. Namajunas | March 23, 2024 | 1 | 2:15 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 28–11 | Fernando Padilla | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón | April 29, 2023 | 1 | 1:41 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 28–10 | Alex Caceres | TKO (head kick and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland | December 17, 2022 | 1 | 3:04 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 28–9 | Hakeem Dawodu | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 279 | September 10, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (149.5 lb) bout; Dawodu missed weight. |
| Win | 27–9 | Steven Peterson | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland | February 5, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (149 lb) bout; Peterson missed weight. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 26–9 | Charles Jourdain | Submission (brabo choke) | UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Till | September 4, 2021 | 3 | 2:56 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (150 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 25–9 | Choi Seung-woo | KO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: The Korean Zombie vs. Ige | June 19, 2021 | 1 | 1:37 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 25–8 | Nate Landwehr | TKO (flying knee) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis | February 20, 2021 | 1 | 0:56 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 24–8 | Sean Woodson | Submission (brabo choke) | UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker | June 27, 2020 | 3 | 2:44 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (150 lb) bout. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 23–8 | AJ Bryant | Submission (bulldog choke) | CageSport 60 | February 22, 2020 | 1 | 4:43 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| Loss | 22–8 | Julio Arce | KO (head kick) | UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee | May 18, 2019 | 3 | 1:49 | Rochester, New York, United States | |
| Loss | 22–7 | Grant Dawson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos | March 9, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Wichita, Kansas, United States | Return to Featherweight. |
| Loss | 22–6 | Devonte Smith | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: The Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez | November 10, 2018 | 1 | 0:46 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 22–5 | Jamall Emmers | KO (head kick and punches) | Dana White's Contender Series 11 | June 26, 2018 | 2 | 1:10 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Featherweight bout. |
| Win | 21–5 | Bryan Nuro | Decision (unanimous) | CageSport 48 | December 16, 2017 | 5 | 5:00 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | Won the CageSport Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 20–5 | Erick Sánchez | TKO (punches) | Global Knockout 11 | November 4, 2017 | 3 | 4:32 | Jackson, California, United States | Featherweight bout. |
| Loss | 19–5 | Bobby McIntyre | TKO (punches) | CageSport 46 | July 15, 2017 | 1 | 3:58 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | Lost the CageSport Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 19–4 | Justin Harrington | KO (knees and punches) | CageSport 45 | April 22, 2017 | 1 | 4:09 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | Defended the CageSport Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 18–4 | Justin Harrington | Submission (triangle choke) | CageSport 44 | February 25, 2017 | 1 | 2:23 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | Won the CageSport Lightweight Championship. |
| Loss | 17–4 | Paddy Pimblett | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Warriors: Unplugged | November 12, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | London, England | For the Cage Warriors Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 17–3 | Austin Springer | TKO (punches) | Prime Fighting 8 | October 8, 2016 | 2 | 3:15 | Ridgefield, Washington, United States | Won the Prime Fighting Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 16–3 | Daniel Swain | TKO (doctor stoppage) | KOTC: Battle Zone | May 19, 2016 | 2 | 5:00 | Worley, Idaho, United States | Catchweight (150 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 15–3 | Teruto Ishihara | KO (punches) | UFC 196 | March 5, 2016 | 2 | 0:34 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–2 | Marcin Wrzosek | Decision (split) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber Finale | December 11, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Lightweight bout. |
| Win | 14–2 | Drew Brokenshire | Submission (brabo choke) | CageSport 34 | February 21, 2015 | 3 | 4:35 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | Won the vacant CageSport (SFL USA) Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 13–2 | Harrison Bevens | KO (knee) | CageSport 33 | December 13, 2014 | 2 | 2:10 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | Won the vacant CageSport (SFL USA) Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 12–2 | Ryan Mulvihill | Submission (triangle choke) | KOTC: Seek and Destroy | May 22, 2014 | 2 | 4:19 | Worley, Idaho, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Win | 11–2 | Mike Joy | TKO (punches) | CageSport 29 | February 8, 2014 | 2 | 2:28 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | Catchweight (150 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 10–2 | Lee Morrison | Decision (unanimous) | CageSport 25 | July 6, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 | Jason Gybels | Submission (triangle choke) | CageSport 24 | April 27, 2013 | 2 | 3:49 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | Catchweight (150 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 9–1 | Drew Brokenshire | Decision (unanimous) | CageSport 22 | December 1, 2012 | 5 | 5:00 | Fife, Washington, United States | Lost the CageSport Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–0 | Jason Gybels | KO (punch) | CageSport 21 | September 29, 2012 | 1 | 4:36 | Fife, Washington, United States | Lightweight bout. |
| Win | 8–0 | Ryan Mulvihill | Submission (armbar) | CageSport 19 | April 28, 2012 | 4 | 1:48 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | Featherweight debut. Won the CageSport Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–0 | Jerome Jones | Submission (armbar) | CageSport 18 | February 25, 2012 | 2 | 4:30 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Matt Coble | Submission (rear-naked choke) | CageSport 17 | December 3, 2011 | 3 | 3:31 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | Lightweight bout. |
| Win | 5–0 | Ernesto Toscano | Decision (unanimous) | CageSport 16 | October 1, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | John Martinez | TKO (punches) | Lords of the Cage | June 10, 2011 | 3 | 3:24 | Yakima, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Ryan Mulvihill | Submission (brabo choke) | CageSport 14 | April 23, 2011 | 2 | 1:23 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Omar Avelar | Submission (armbar) | CageSport 13 | February 19, 2011 | 2 | 2:32 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Angel Diaz | KO (punches) | CageSport 12 | October 2, 2010 | 1 | 2:16 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| Exhibition record breakdown | Exhibition record breakdown | |
| 4 matches | 3 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 3 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 3–1 | Artem Lobov | TKO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs Team Faber | December 9, 2015 | 1 | 1:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | TUF 22 Semifinal. |
| Win | 3–0 | Abner Lloveras | Decision (split) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs Team Faber | December 2, 2015 | 2 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | TUF 22 Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 2–0 | Mehdi Baghdad | Decision (majority) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs Team Faber | October 21, 2015 | 2 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | TUF 22 Elimination Round. |
| Win | 1–0 | Jason Soares | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs Team Faber | September 9, 2015 | 2 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | TUF 22 preliminary fight. |