UFC 324: Josh Hokit vs Denzel Freeman Preview & Prediction
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Josh Hokit returns to take on Denzel Freeman at heavyweight following a Performance of the Night winning debut in November.
Josh Hokit vs Denzel Freeman facts
What time are Josh Hokit and Denzel Freeman expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 324? T-Mobile Arena, Nevada, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 324? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 324
What TV channel is UFC 324 on? UK – TNT Sports Box Office / USA – Not televised
Where can I stream UFC 324? UK – TNT Sports subscribers who have paid for the fight can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett main card
Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett (Lightweight)
Sean O'Malley vs Song Yadong (Bantamweight)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick Lewis (Heavyweight)
Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas (Women’s Flyweight)
Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva (Featherweight)
UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett prelims
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo (Bantamweight)
Ateba Gautier vs Andrey Pulyaev (Middleweight)
Nikita Krylov vs Modestas Bukauskas (Light Heavyweight)
Alex Perez vs Charles Johnson (Flyweight)
Michael Johnson vs Alexander Hernandez (Lightweight)
Josh Hokit vs Denzel Freeman (Heavyweight)
Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman (Bantamweight)
Adam Fugitt vs Ty Miller (Welterweight)
Josh Hokit: "The Incredible Hok" looks to maintain his 100% finishing rate and his undefeated record
Former NFL prospect Josh Hokit (7-0) has made a seamless jump to MMA, posting an undefeated record of 7-0 with seven stoppages since turning professional in 2023. A veteran of Bellator and LFA, "The Incredible Hok" announced himself on the UFC scene with a second round stoppage over Guilherme Uriel on DWCS, before proceeding to drop a poor man's Chael Sonnen-style promo on the mike. The former D1 wrestler would follow his Contender Series bow up with an impressive sub-one minute KO over Max Gimenis in his UFC debut, wasting absolutely no time in producing a Performance of the Night winning showcase.
Denzel Freeman: Can "Luke Fox" rebound from one of the most uninspiring debut victories in recent memory?
Arriving in the UFC with a record of 6-1, Denzel Freeman (7-1) is the rare example of a fighter whose stock arguably dropped despite walking away with a victory in his debut. A former champion in LFA, "Luke Fox" may have bested Marek Bujlo by decision in Qatar, but the fight turned out to be an absolute stinker, with neither man seemingly invested in doing any damage to the other across three rounds. This is even more remarkable given that Freeman owns a submission victory over Steven Asplund, another recent addition to the heavyweight division who produced an absolute breakout performance courtesy of his relentless pressure and activity.
Josh Hokit vs Denzel Freeman prediction
What Hokit lacks in creativity on the mike (the man is literally recycling classic Chael Sonnen soundbites verbatim), he decidedly makes up for with his ferocity and finishing instincts in the cage. While he has yet to face solid levels of competition in his career, the Jackson-Wink representative looks to be a safe bet to demolish low level heavyweight competition with ease.
Despite an impressive record of 7-1 on paper, Freeman looks to be exactly that. Hokit has a considerable advantage when it comes to the grappling courtesy of his wrestling accolades, and is arguably the more potent striker of the two even if the action does stay standing. While "Luke Fox" has never been finished and could land the classic heavyweight haymaker out of nowhere, it's exceedingly difficult to pick him to win a fight after his debut showing.
In short, Hokit overwhelms Freeman with relentless pressure, likely grounding him and finishing with strikes on the floor once he is able to secure dominant position. "Luke Fox's" southpaw stance and reach advantage could conceivably frustrate him early, but the pick is still "The Incredible Hok" by second round TKO.
Prediction: Josh Hokit to win by TKO
