Despite what UFC CEO Dana White may have said, Ciryl Gane has officially been promoted to UFC’s undisputed heavyweight champion after Tom Aspinall vacated his belt.
As a result, Gane will defend his UFC heavyweight crown in a main event matchup against controversial heavyweight contender Josh Hokit at UFC 334 on Nov. 14 from inside Madison Square Garden in New York City. The news was announced during the LIVE broadcast of UFC 331 on Saturday night (results HERE).
Gane has held the interim UFC heavyweight
title since defeating Alex Pereira via controversial TKO at UFC’s White House event this past June. Before that, Gane’s heavyweight title fight with then champion Tom Aspinall at UFC 321 was ruled a no contest after an accidental eye poke left Aspinall unable to continue. Aspinall still hasn’t recovered from the injury, which is why Gane is being promoted.
Hokit, who is one of the most outspoken and cringy fighters on the UFC roster today, has been unstoppable since his UFC arrival back in Nov. 2025. In less than one year the former NFL fullback has captured four wins, including a Fight of the Year candidate against Curtis Blaydes and a recent TKO win over Derrick Lewis also at UFC’s White House event. Hokit can certainly talk the talk, but he’s also able to walk the walk. We’ll see if his luck can continue this November against one of the most athletic heavyweights of all time.
Luckily for New York fight fans, UFC 334 will also feature a co-main event clash between UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison and women’s G.O.A.T. Amanda Nunes. The women’s superfight was originally expected to happen at UFC 324 last January, but a nasty neck injury left Harrison unable to compete. It put a hold on Nunes’ return to action after retiring from fighting in 2023.
Check out some of UFC 334’s lineup below:
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