Ciryl Gane will defend his UFC heavyweight title against undefeated challenger Josh Hokit this Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The main event of UFC 334 features the heavyweight champion making his first title defense after being elevated to undisputed status following Tom Aspinall vacating the belt due to ongoing eye injuries. While Gane enters as a modest favorite, the 10-0 Hokit represents a rising threat in the division.
I think Gane must beat Hokit. He’s got to win this to be seen as the real champ,” said Stipe Miocic, a former UFC heavyweight champion, according to SPORTbible.
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Heavyweight title stakes and fighter backgrounds
Gane’s ascent to the undisputed championship followed an interim title win against Alex Pereira at the UFC White House event in June. His previous title fight at UFC 321 against Tom Aspinall ended in a no-contest after Gane delivered an eye poke, MMA Fighting reported. Aspinall has not competed since that match, which occurred when the eye poke happened early in the fight while both were engaging.
The challenger has competed four times in the UFC, including a three-fight winning streak in 2026. This run included a Fight of the Year contender against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in April, where Hokit won by decision with a strike count of 177–174, and a TKO victory over Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250.
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Some analysts suggest Hokit’s unconventional approach and mind games, which EssentiallySports described as similar to Conor McGregor, have drawn attention. Former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez told MMA Fighting that Hokit has proven himself as a “well-renowned mixed martial artist” who deserves the opportunity.
Velasquez added, “I think way, way more complete than Gane is. So I think Hokit, yeah, is going to surprise a lot of people with the great wrestling, great hands, as you’ve seen. I see him winning this fight.”
Details of the undercard matchups
- Caio Borralho vs. Yousri Belgaroui: Borralho faces Belgaroui.
- Bilal Hasan vs. Luis Gurule: Hasan enters the fight with a 10-0 record and one no-contest.
- Macy Chiasson vs. Melquizael Costa.
- Evan Elder vs. Samuel Sanches.
- Juan Diaz vs. Heili Alateng: Diaz was fined after missing the weight limit by 0.4 pounds.
- Terrance McKinney vs. Jim Miller.
Estimated fighter payouts
The event includes varying levels of expected earnings for the competitors. While exact figures for the upcoming bout are not finalized, Khel Now provided estimates for previous performances and career highs.
| Fighter Estimated Payouts | |
|---|---|
| Fighter | Reported / Estimated Payout |
| Ciryl Gane | <$1,000,000 |
| Josh Hokit | <$357,000 |
| Kayla Harrison | <$350,000 |
| Amanda Nunes | <$1,500,000 |
| Yousri Belgaroui | $35,000–$70,000 |
For context, Gane earned an estimated $718,000 for his base purse for UFC 334. Amanda Nunes earned an estimated $1,500,000.
How to watch UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden
The event takes place on Saturday, November 14, at Madison Square Garden. The early prelims are set to kick off at 5 p.m. ET. In the UK, the early prelims are scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. GMT, with regular prelims at midnight GMT, and the main card starting at 2 a.m. GMT on Sunday, November 15.
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The broadcast in the UK will be available on TNT Sports and its streaming partner, HBO Max. In the US, the event is available on Paramount+.
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More on Ciryl Gane
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