Ciryl Gane Defeats Josh Hokit at UFC 334

Ciryl Gane defended his UFC heavyweight championship for the first time Saturday, defeating previously unbeaten Josh Hokit by unanimous decision in the UFC 334 main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

All three judges scored the five-round contest 48-47 in favor of the Frenchman, who relied on his superior striking accuracy to withstand a relentless challenge from the American.

Ciryl Gane Beats Josh Hokit

Credit: UFC on X

Hokit enjoyed early success with his wrestling, lifting Gane for a spectacular slam in the opening round, and continued pressing forward throughout the contest.

However, Gane’s cleaner punches, effective counterstriking and strong finish ultimately secured victory. The result marked another significant achievement in Gane’s eventful 2026 campaign.

The 36-year-old captured the interim heavyweight championship by knocking out Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 in June, before being elevated to undisputed champion when Tom Aspinall vacated the title because of lingering eye injuries.

“He did not surprise me. I knew already,” Gane said of Hokit. “Around the world, they underestimated him. Not me. I expected the pace to be that frantic.

“I’m a warrior and he is, too. It was an incredible fight. This guy is a mother-f*****.”

For Hokit, defeat ended a remarkable undefeated run that had taken him from Dana White’s Contender Series to a world championship opportunity in little more than a year.

The outspoken American entered the contest with a 10-0 professional record, having recorded notable victories over Derrick Lewis and Curtis Blaydes during his rapid ascent through the heavyweight division.

Earlier at the UFC 334 event, Kayla Harrison retained her UFC women’s bantamweight belt by submitting Amanda Nunes with a rear-naked choke in the fourth round.

Caio Borralho beat Yousri Belgaroui by unanimous decision, and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson closed his UFC career in the same way he opened it — with a head kick, this one a spinning wheel kick, which put Charles Radtke down and out in the third round.