When the UFC heads into UFC 324 on January twenty fourth, some of the intriguing bouts on the cardboard won’t feature a household name—yet. As an alternative, it’s going to pit two elite American wrestlers on a collision course: Josh Hokit vs. Denzel Freeman, a stylistic clash that guarantees to be a grappling purist’s dream with heavyweight violence sprinkled on top.
Hokit’s path to the Octagon is straight out of a scouting department fever dream. A standout collegiate wrestler at Fresno State and a former San Francisco 49ers fullback, Hokit brings the rare mix of Division I mat credentials and NFL-caliber explosiveness. His UFC debut showcased exactly that: heavy pressure, seamless level changes, and powerful ground-and-pound that forced his opponent into survival mode before the referee stepped in. It wasn’t only a win; it was a press release that his transition from the gridiron to the cage is not any novelty act.
Across from him stands Denzel Freeman, the #4-ranked Greco-Roman wrestler in the US—a clinch artist with a background tailored for chaos in close quarters. In his own UFC debut, Freeman actually utilized his improved striking to outpoint his solution to the largest victory of his eight-fight MMA profession.
On paper, this matchup raises an enchanting query: what happens when an open-space shot wrestler with NFL power meets a world-class Greco specialist who thrives within the clinch? Hokit will likely hunt reactive takedowns and drive Freeman across the cage, while Freeman will look to punish entries, peel off underhooks, and make every tie-up a fight-ending opportunity.
At UFC 324, considered one of these wrestlers takes the subsequent step from prospect to problem. The one guarantee? Someone’s hype train is about to go away the station at full speed.