UFC 334 Title Fights
Ciryl Gane defends heavyweight title against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 in New York.
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Ciryl Gane enters the title fight after defeating Alex Pereira by second-round TKO at UFC Freedom 250, a victory that initially earned him the interim heavyweight championship.
2
Josh Hokit’s UFC run is 4-0 since his November 2025 debut, with three second-round-or-earlier TKOs and four performance bonuses.
3
Kayla Harrison won the women’s bantamweight title by submitting Julianna Pena in the second round, just her third UFC appearance, and enters her first defense with a 19-1 professional record.
4
Amanda Nunes is the only female fighter to have held UFC titles in two weight classes and the third fighter overall to simultaneously hold championships in two divisions, joining Conor McGregor and Daniel Cormier.
5
By booking Gane against Hokit, the UFC has set aside the possibility of an immediate rematch with Alex Pereira, whose camp had reportedly lobbied for another fight after Gane’s victory.
The UFC announced UFC 334 for November 14 at Madison Square Garden, headlined by heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane defending his title against Josh Hokit. Gane earned the belt after Tom Aspinall vacated it due to a lingering eye injury, while Hokit enters undefeated in the UFC with four straight wins and four performance bonuses.
Women's bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison will defend her title against returning legend Amanda Nunes, the only female fighter to hold belts in two weight classes. Stephen Thompson will also compete in what is expected to be his final UFC bout against Charles Radtke.
Hokit's Meteoric Rise to Title Shot
Josh Hokit signed to the UFC through Dana White's Contender Series in August 2025 and reached MSG in under a year. The 28-year-old wrestling prospect compiled a 4-0 record with three second-round-or-earlier knockouts. He also captured performance bonuses in every single UFC appearance, including stoppage wins over Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis.
Hokit's trajectory is nearly unprecedented—going from prelim fighter to heavyweight title challenger in less than 12 months. Analysts noted his undefeated momentum and finishing power forced the UFC to fast-track him ahead of other contenders vying for a shot at Gane's belt.
Aspinall's Exit Opens the Heavyweight Door
Tom Aspinall vacated the undisputed heavyweight championship on September 14 due to complications from an eye poke suffered against Gane at UFC 321. Aspinall publicly stated he did not want to hold up the division, allowing the UFC to elevate Gane from interim champion to undisputed status.
Dana White initially confused matters by saying Gane would not automatically become champion, but White clarified during the UFC 331 broadcast that Gane holds the undisputed title and will defend it against Hokit at MSG on November 14.
Pereira's Rematch Hopes Shelved for Hokit
Alex Pereira's team lobbied heavily for an immediate rematch after Gane defeated him via second-round TKO at UFC Freedom 250 in June. Pereira was attempting to become the UFC's first three-division champion when he fell short. The rematch push, however, did not gain traction with matchmakers.
Instead, the UFC sidelined Pereira in favor of Hokit's undefeated record and knockout streak. Analysts report the UFC may position Pereira against Alexander Volkov in a future No. 1 contender bout to keep the heavyweight bracket competitive while Gane and Hokit collide at the Garden.
Harrison's First Defense Against Returning Nunes
Kayla Harrison will defend her women's bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes, the only female fighter to hold UFC belts in two weight divisions simultaneously. Harrison won her title by submitting Julianna Pena in the second round during just her third UFC appearance, posting a 19-1 professional record.
Nunes returns from a three-year retirement after stepping away in June 2023. The co-main event was originally scheduled for January 2026 at UFC 324 but was postponed when Harrison underwent neck surgery. Both fighters will now meet at MSG in November for the co-headliner slot.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
86
Articles
111
Reach
197
A
AnonymousAuthor
