Julian Erosa Record: 31-13-0

Grit and the road back

Erosa's UFC return was rocky, with a 2018 knockout loss to Devonte Smith and 2019 defeats to Grant Dawson and Julio Arce threatening to end his run again. But he kept clawing back. In June 2020 he submitted undefeated prospect Sean Woodson with a third-round D'Arce choke, then opened 2021 with a spectacular first-round flying-knee TKO of Nate Landwehr. After a knockout loss to Seung Woo Choi, he answered with another D'Arce, this time tapping Charles Jourdain in September 2021.

Featherweight veteran

Erosa settled in as a dangerous, streaky veteran. He banked decision wins over Steven Peterson and Hakeem Dawodu across 2022 before a rough patch — knockout losses to Alex Caceres in December 2022 and Fernando Padilla in April 2023. True to form, he bounced back with consecutive first-round guillotine submissions of Ricardo Ramos and unbeaten Christian Rodriguez in 2024, and a first-round TKO of grizzled veteran Darren Elkins at UFC 314 in April 2025. A decision loss to Melquizael Costa in May 2025 and a 2026 knockout defeat to Lerryan Douglas followed, but the pattern of his career — get hurt, then go hunting for a finish — has made him a perennially entertaining stylistic puzzle.

Fighting style

Erosa is the rare fighter who is a true two-way finishing threat — 12 of his 31 wins are by KO/TKO and 14 by submission, an exceptional 84% finish rate that reflects how rarely his fights reach the judges. He uses his length and height to fire long strikes and unorthodox attacks like flying knees, then transitions seamlessly to chokes when scrambles open up; the D'Arce and guillotine are his signature taps. The same aggression that produces highlights is also his vulnerability: eight of his 13 losses have come by knockout, a sign of a chin that can be found and a willingness to stand in the pocket. The result is a high-variance, must-watch competitor who is never in a dull fight.

Career highlights

• Elite two-way finisher — 12 KO/TKO and 14 submission wins for an 84% finish rate, equally comfortable ending a fight on the feet or the ground.
• Signature comebacks — repeatedly answered losses with finishes, including a flying-knee TKO of Nate Landwehr and D'Arce-choke wins over Sean Woodson and Charles Jourdain.
• TUF springboard and persistence — reached the UFC via The Ultimate Fighter Season 22 and fought his way back into the promotion multiple times through sheer grit.