Marek Bujilo and Denzel Freeman are the newest additions to the UFC’s heavyweight division. They will debut opposite each other this Saturday at UFC Qatar, on a card headlined by lightweights Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker. Ian Machado Garry and Belal Muhammad star in the co-main event, in a key welterweight bout pitting a top contender against a former champion.
Bujilo
Standing one and a half meters tall
Fighting at 265 lbs (heavyweight)
32 years old
Fighting from Elk, Poland
Training from Dragon’s Den Fight Club
A professional record of 6-0
3 KO/TKOs, 3 submissions
Denzel Vrijman
Standing at six feet
Fighting at 260 lbs (heavyweight)
34 years old
Fighting from Colorado Springs, Colorado
Training from pound 4 pound Muay Thai
A professional record of 6-1
4 KO/TKOs, 1 submission
I scout talent every day, so if the UFC signs someone I’ve never heard of, that’s an immediate red flag. Bujło is a Polish heavyweight who has had six straight first-round finishes, but the opposition is extremely weak: his opponents are a combined 25-46, and none have a winning record. He’s a BJJ black belt and leans heavily on that wrestling edge, but given the level of competition it’s hard to gauge what that belt actually means in practice.
The tape is limited, but the pattern is consistent: clinch submissions, leverage-based trips, and immediate work from top position. His jiu-jitsu looks clean – he floats into dominant positions, lands short elbows and chases submissions – but most of his finishes come less from technique and more from blasting opponents. We still don’t know what he looks like when someone pushes back. There are simply too many unknowns to make a confident assessment: What happens if he can’t hit his takedowns? Can he even strike? He has the frame, but doesn’t seem to understand how to use it. And because no fight lasts longer than 1:42, cardio is a glaring red question mark. Heavyweights often have gas problems, but this is extreme. Bujło is an intriguing grappler, but expectations should be kept low until he is tested.
Freeman’s signing, on the other hand, was no surprise. As a Greco-Roman wrestler, U.S. Marine Corps officer, and even a former WWE development signee, he was always going to transition well to MMA. His early career was inconsistent, but he has recently reached a level with strong back-to-back victories over Hugo Cunha and UFC heavyweight Steve Asplund. His only loss is a fight that many think he actually won, so he has a legitimate case to remain undefeated.
Freeman uses a wide, karate-like stance and rarely forces his wrestling – combining everything behind his striking submissions. His stand-up is generally unpolished, but his back leg kick game is a real weapon. He delivers a sharp head kick, often creating space with a flick of the hand before exploding through it, and he follows this up well with body kicks in combinations. His biggest problem is cage control: he backs down too easily and fights willingly off the fence. He’s durable – never finished – but he doesn’t take punches well, and his defensive reactions can get him into trouble. Still, his athleticism and constant threat of the takedown usually save him.
As a wrestler, he can score takedowns from space or in the clinch, and he has solid ground-and-pound. However, his control over wrestling is a level behind: he loses positions in transitions and cannot always secure rides cleanly. At heavyweight, however, a fighter can go far with sheer athleticism and the basics of wrestling. The concern is whether his lack of octagon control can limit his ceiling against elite competition. Right now he profiles as a borderline top-15 heavyweight.
This match depends on how real Bujło’s wrestling skills are once he faces someone who won’t fold at first contact. On paper, Freeman is taking a step back compared to his last three opponents. Bujło can be dangerous on the mat, but taking down a high-level wrestler is a completely different task than throwing around regional heavyweights. The choice is clear Freeman: wrestling for jiu-jitsu, proven competition for mystery and far fewer unknowns.
#UFC #Marek #Bujlo #Denzel #Freeman