Hokit Battered Freeman Until the Final Second of Round One
Josh Hokit stopped Denzel Freeman at 4:59 of the first round on January 24, 2026, at UFC 324. The heavyweight preliminary contest at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas ended when Freeman could no longer stand steadily after sustained striking and wrestling pressure.
A decorated wrestling background supported Hokit’s rise
Hokit had earned All-American honors at Fresno State before spending time on the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad. His transition to MMA had already produced a successful UFC debut against Max Gimenis.
Freeman also brought a substantial wrestling background, including the All-Marine program and training in Colorado Springs. The matchup therefore paired two athletes comfortable with the physical demands of grappling.
Hokit imposed the pace on the feet and the canvas
Hokit immediately pressed forward, taking Freeman down and continuing to attack through changes of position. His hands and athleticism prevented the opponent from finding a comfortable reset.
The damage accumulated throughout the opening round. Freeman struggled to regain a stable stance late, and the referee stopped the contest with only one second remaining before the break.
The unbeaten heavyweight collected another performance award
The technical knockout gave Hokit a second consecutive first-round UFC finish and moved his professional record to 8–0. Every victory at that stage had come inside the distance.
The promotion awarded him a Performance of the Night bonus. His result followed a successful debut and demonstrated how effectively his wrestling base could support a sustained finishing attack in the heavyweight division.
Sources
- UFC: official results
- UFC: preliminary fight reports
- UFC: finishing sequences and performance awards
- UFC: wrestling, football and earlier UFC victory
- UFC: Freeman’s wrestling background
