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Lee returns after 18 months away
South Korean featherweight Lee Jeong-young will return to the UFC on Nov. 1, facing veteran Julian Erosa at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The event will air live in South Korea on tvN SPORTS and the streaming service TVING, with the undercard beginning at 7 a.m. and the main card at 9 a.m.
The bout marks Lee’s first UFC appearance in a year and a half. He won his 2024 UFC debut against Blake Bilder but then lost consecutive fights to Hyder Amil and Daniel Santos — the first two-fight losing streak of his professional career. Lee is seeking his second UFC victory.
Lee said he never expected to lose twice in a row but learned from the experience after his confidence faltered. “I don’t want to feel defeat anymore,” he said. “I will keep winning with the mindset of a winner.”
A veteran’s final fight
Erosa has an even 9-9 record across 18 UFC fights and holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He has earned 45% of his career victories by submission and plans to retire after the bout.
Lee acknowledged Erosa’s experience but said he believes his speed and punching power will give him an advantage. “He is about to retire, but I have to keep climbing,” Lee said. “I will fight like a tiger in the Octagon so I have no regrets.”
TVING draws interest around UFC coverage
TVING appeared among fast-rising search terms in South Korea on Oct. 29 as interest built around the UFC broadcast. The subscription streaming platform is operated by TVING Corporation, whose participants include South Korean entertainment company CJ ENM, internet company Naver and SLL, an affiliate of broadcaster JTBC. Along with Korean dramas, movies and variety shows, TVING carries live sports including UFC events and games from the Korea Baseball Organization.
A video of the bantamweight title fight between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili, released Oct. 24, had recorded 2,390,401 views as of Oct. 29 and directed viewers to TVING for fight streaming.
The Nov. 1 card will be headlined by No. 12-ranked lightweight Renato Moicano and No. 14 Tom Nolan. Nolan enters on a five-fight UFC winning streak and is seeking a place in the division’s top 10.
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