Get ready, fight fans! UFC 324 is shaping up to be a heavyweight showdown to kick off 2026 with a bang! Denzel Freeman and Josh Hokit are set to clash on January 24th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This matchup promises fireworks, and here's why you should care.
Sources close to the situation, speaking to MMA Junkie, have confirmed this exciting booking, though the UFC is yet to make it official.
Let's break down the fighters. Denzel Freeman, with a record of 7-1 in MMA and 1-0 in the UFC, entered the promotion as the LFA heavyweight champion. Before his UFC debut, he was on a roll, finishing two regional fights. His first UFC appearance in November saw him secure a unanimous decision victory over Marek Buljo.
On the other side of the octagon, we have Josh Hokit, boasting an undefeated record of 7-0 in MMA and 1-0 in the UFC. He made a huge statement in his promotional debut in November, knocking out Max Gimenis in a mere 58 seconds! Hokit, a former practice squad player for the San Francisco 49ers, was originally a Bellator prospect before the Bellator-PFL merger.
But here's where it gets interesting... Freeman and Hokit are both relatively new to the UFC, making this a pivotal fight for both heavyweights as they try to climb the ranks.
Here's a look at the current UFC 324 lineup:
- 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? Will Freeman's experience or Hokit's knockout power prevail? Let us know your predictions in the comments below! Who are you most excited to see fight at UFC 324?
