Gane vs Hokit at UFC 334: the Frenchman faces the undefeated 10-0 fighter
Summary
Madison Square Garden, Saturday night, a crowd ready to roar for the American. Across from him, a calm, technical Frenchman will have to weather the storm without ever losing focus. On the night of November 14–15, Ciryl Gane defends his heavyweight title against the undefeated Josh Hokit at UFC 334.
Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit, main event at UFC 334 in New York.
The fight at a glance
- Date: Saturday, November 14, to Sunday, November 15, 2026
- Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York
- Matchup: Ciryl Gane (14-2, 1 no contest) vs Josh Hokit (10-0), UFC heavyweight title
- ⏰ Time (Paris): main card at 3 a.m., Gane’s fight expected around 5 a.m.
- Broadcast: RMC Sport, €15 for the first month with code UFC334 through November 15
3 reasons to set your alarm
1. A Frenchman in the headline spot. Ciryl Gane, a two-time interim champion, defends his title at Madison Square Garden.
2. An undefeated fighter who brings the heat. Josh Hokit, 10-0, beat Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis in 2026.
3. A crowd against him. According to L'Équipe, Gane was booed and Hokit cheered when they arrived at the press conference.
Ciryl Gane: calm after years of storms
Nothing suggested Ciryl Gane was destined for the cage. Born in La Roche-sur-Yon, he sold furniture before discovering muay thai in Paris on the advice of a former classmate. He moved into MMA in 2018 at Fernand Lopez's MMA Factory.
His rise is meteoric. By 2021, Bon Gamin had claimed his first interim title against Derrick Lewis. Then came the storms: a points loss to Francis Ngannou in 2022, followed by a quick submission loss to Jon Jones in 2023.
He never gives up. In October 2025, his fight against Tom Aspinall ended in a no contest after an accidental eye poke. On June 14, 2026, he knocked out Alex Pereira in the second round and reclaimed the interim title.
"I felt like a champion before I had a belt."
— Ciryl Gane, speaking to L'Équipe, ahead of UFC 334
Who is Josh Hokit, the storm from California?
He has the build of a football player—and for good reason. Josh Hokit played American football at Fresno State, where he was also an All-American wrestler. The 49ers even signed him in 2020 before releasing him.
In the cage, The Incredible Hok doesn’t hold back: 10 fights, 10 wins. Joining the UFC in 2025, he has racked up four straight wins, including a TKO in 56 seconds. Against Curtis Blaydes, he landed 177 significant strikes, a UFC heavyweight record.
The painful detail: on June 14, 2026, the night Gane beat Pereira, Hokit knocked out Derrick Lewis, Gane’s first victim in a title fight. Outside the cage, his microphone moments often spark controversy, to the point that Dana White admitted he disliked some of his comments.
Read also: UFC 309 Jones vs Miocic: why this KO closed an era
Between chaos and control, the key to the fight
It all comes down to one thing, highlighted by L'Équipe in its analysis: avoid chaos. Hokit wants a brawl, as he did against Blaydes. Gane wants a clean fight at range, using his jab and low kicks.
The bookmakers favor the Frenchman, priced at around -200, or roughly two chances in three. Our prediction is clear: if Gane keeps his distance and rides out the storm of the early rounds, the title stays in France.
There’s plenty to keep you up all night. In the co-main event, Kayla Harrison defends her bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes.
November 14–15: how not to miss a thing
The main card starts at 3 a.m. Paris time, and Gane’s fight is expected around 5 a.m. Get the coffee ready—or set your alarm.
The event will be broadcast live on RMC Sport. With code UFC334, the subscription drops to €15 for the first month instead of €25, through November 15 inclusive.
CALM AGAINST THE STORM
Madison Square Garden against him, an undefeated fighter charging forward, and five rounds to keep a cool head. If Bon Gamin rides out the storm, the New York night will belong to France.
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