The UFC’s first event of the Paramount era continues to take shape.
Multiple people with knowledge of the promotion’s plans confirmed to MMA Fighting that a heavyweight matchup between recent Contender
Series contract winner Josh Hokit and former LFA champ Denzel Freeman is set for UFC 324, which takes place Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. MMA Junkie was first to report the booking.
Hokit enters the bout a winner of all seven of his pro MMA bouts, including three wins in LFA, and a pair of victories in Bellator. After earning a contract on DWCS this past season, Hokit made a statement with a 56 second knockout victory over Max Gimenis at UFC Vegas 111 in November.
Freeman also had a successful octagon debut as he picked up a unanimous decision win over Marek Bujlo at UFC Qatar in November, his third consecutive victory.
UFC 324 is headlined by an interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, with a women’s bantamweight title bout between Kayla Harrison and the returning Amanda Nunes serving as the co-main event.
Damon Martin contributed to this report
