Get ready, fight fans! The heavyweight division is about to get a whole lot more interesting as the UFC gears up for its first event of 2026. UFC 324 is shaping up to be a must-see event, and the addition of Denzel Freeman vs. Josh Hokit is a major part of it.
This exciting matchup will see rising stars Denzel Freeman and Josh Hokit clash on January 24th at the iconic T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While the UFC hasn't officially announced the bout, sources close to the situation have confirmed it to MMA Junkie. This is a big deal, and here's why...
First up, we have Denzel Freeman (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC). Freeman, a former LFA heavyweight champion, entered the UFC with a lot of hype. Before making his UFC debut, he had finished two regional fights. His first UFC appearance was a unanimous decision victory over Marek Buljo in November. While a win is a win, some fans felt the performance was a bit underwhelming.
Then there's Josh Hokit (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who is entering the octagon undefeated. Hokit made a massive statement in his promotional debut in November, knocking out Max Gimenis in a mere 58 seconds! Before his UFC debut, Hokit was a Bellator prospect, but he departed the promotion during the Bellator-PFL roster merger.
But here's where it gets controversial... Some fans might argue that Freeman's performance in his debut didn't quite live up to expectations, while Hokit's lightning-fast knockout has many already predicting a meteoric rise.
And this is the part most people miss... Hokit's background includes a stint on the San Francisco 49ers practice squad, adding another layer of intrigue to his already compelling story.
The current UFC 324 fight card is stacked. Here's what else you can look forward to:
- Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett – for interim lightweight title
- Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes – for women's bantamweight title
- Sean O'Malley vs. Song Yadong
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis
- Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
- Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva
- Alexa Grasso vs. Rose Namajunas
- Modestas Bukauskas vs. Nikita Krylov
- Ateba Gautier vs. Andrey Pulayev
- Josh Hokit vs. Denzel Freeman
What do you think of this matchup? Will Hokit continue his winning streak, or will Freeman make a statement? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
