MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at UFC 334's main event between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit.
Ciryl Gane UFC 334 preview
Staple info:
- Record: 14-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC
- Height: 6'4" Age: 36 Weight: 248 lbs. Reach: 81"
- Last fight: TKO win over Alex Pereira (June 14, 2026)
- Camp: MMA Factory (France)
- Stance/striking style: Switch-stance/muay Thai
- Risk management: Fair
Supplemental info:
- + UFC heavyweight champion
- + Regional MMA title
- + 2x French muay Thai champion
- + 7 KO victories
- + 3 submission wins
- + 3 first-round finishes
- + Knockout power
- + Athletic and agile
- + Consistent pace and pressure
- + Creative feints and footwork
- ^ Changes tempo/shifts stances
- + Accurate shot selection
- ^ Goes to the body and attacks the legs
- + Works well inside the clinch
- ^ Solid wrist controls and setups
- + Serviceable transitional grappler
Josh Hokit UFC 334 preview
Staple info:
- Record: 10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC
- Height: 6'1" Age: 29 Weight: 231 lbs. Reach: 73.5"
- Last fight: TKO win over Derrick Lewis (June 14, 2026)
- Camp: Jackson-Wink MMA (New Mexico)
- Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Risk management: Fair
Supplemental info:
- + 2x All-American wrestler (Div. I)
- + California State Title in 2016
- + 6 KO victories
- + 3 submission wins
- + 6 first-round finishes
- + Knockout power
- + Aggressive pace and pressure
- + Athletic and agile
- ^ Solid speed and reaction times
- + Steadily developing striking
- ^ Puts together punches well off his jab
- + Strong inside the clinch
- ^ Works well off collar ties
- + Superb wrestling ability
- + Excellent positional grappler/rider
- ^ Floats and transitions smoothly off strikes
Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit point of interest: Heavyweight hands
The main event in Madison Square Garden features a contentious heavyweight title fight between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit.
Gane, who recently won his second interim title against Alex Pereira earlier this year, was unceremoniously promoted to the promotion’s ‘undisputed champion’ after the former champ he fouled, Tom Aspinall, couldn't return in time to defend his claim to the belt.
Gane will now get a chance to remind the masses why he keeps getting these title opportunities when he welcomes the UFC’s latest noise-maker,
Hokit.
Say what you will about the shtick of the former Fresno State football player, but I find it genuinely impressive to see how fast Hokit has taken to this sport in just a little over three years. Despite coming from a wrestling base and having little to no hands to speak of when making his pro debut back at Bellator 300, Hokit has since made fight-to-fight improvements, demonstrating a natural aptitude for throwing hands.
Smartly working off of a jab, Hokit can either draw out big reactions from opponents or set up the building blocks for his combinations. And once Hokit catches his stride, the 29-year-old will unleash everything from wicked elbows to brutal body blows.
Hokit also has solid eyes in exchanges as far as his reaction times go, and his natural speed certainly assists his offensive and defensive efforts. That said, Hokit can’t afford to get too aggressive and reckless against someone like Gane.
A fellow athlete and former soccer player who found a taste for muay Thai, Gane is another archetype that represents the hopes of many in regard to the potential of heavyweight athletes transitioning into mixed martial arts.
Aside from looking the part aesthetically, Gane, more importantly, demonstrates an ability to both sponge and sequence techniques, moving well beyond his years.
Showing that he can switch stances with substance, Gane seems competent from both sides, smoothly shifting the tempo of his attacks. From changing the speed of his kicks to pot-shotting punches and checks, Gane appears fully capable of both frustrating and punishing his opposition.
Nevertheless, Gane is not beyond being taxed for his propensity to reset in and out of the clinch, and will need to be mindful anytime he gets out of position with his strikes opposite someone like Hokit.
Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit breakdown: Winning the wrestling
Considering where the challenger’s win conditions lie, winning the wrestling will be paramount for both parties this Saturday.
Hailing from an acclaimed high school wrestling program that helped lead him to state titles and All-American honors alike, Hokit has smartly incorporated his base skills into his fighting style.
Despite starting off his career more reliant on naked and reactive shots in the open, Hokit has since gotten better about setting up his takedowns off of strikes. In fact, Hokit seems to make some solid hay off of his dipping jab – a tactic that allows him to disguise level changes for singles and doubles alike.
Hokit may fail on his first attempt, but the Clovis high school alumnus is good about chaining off to other options. And when Hokit can get to a rear-waist cinch, the heavyweight isn’t shy about trying his best Alexandre Pantoja impression by initiating sacrificial-looking scrambles via crab ride variations.
Hokit may not have been doing MMA or submission grappling for long, but he’s a natural when it comes to mixing in strikes and submissions into his game. From underutilized techniques like cradles to slick strikes off wrist controls, Hokit possesses all the tools to make himself nightmare fuel from topside.
Although grappling has arguably been Gane's traditional foil when fighting higher-level opposition, the former French muay Thai champion has made some real efforts to improve his game in closed quarters.
Generally comporting himself well in tie-ups, Gane displays both competence and comfort inside the clinch. Utilizing diligent wrist controls, Gane can keep tabs on his opponent's intentions, all while keeping hard knees or sneaky elbows in play.
In addition, Gane has demonstrated some solid level-changing shots, often chaining off to a double-leg for his finishes. When taken down by Alexander Volkov in their rematch, Gane also showed some upgraded underhook get-up tactics.
Nevertheless, Gane can't afford to get lackadaisical if he ends up underneath or clinched with Hokit.
Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit odds
The oddsmakers and the public favor the French fighter, listing Gane -210 and Hokit +168 via FanDuel.
Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit prediction, pick
Considering the Gen Pop’s hype on Hokit and hate for Gane, it’s kind of a pleasant surprise to see the current champion getting some deserved respect on the betting lines.
Say what you will about the ignominious endings to Gane’s last three fights, “Bon Gamin” is undeniably one of the most talented and athletic fighters that the division has seen in the past decade. Should Gane punish Hokit’s lack of head movement and linear blitzes with brutal body teeps and a checking lead hand, then none of us should really be too shocked.
However, despite Gane’s defensive and offensive grappling improvements, I can’t help but shake the feeling that stylistic kryptonite is a potent two-way street in this fight.
Gane is the deserved favorite who checks the majority of the proverbial boxes and has way more relevant experience to draw from. But aside from the fact that wrestling and submission grappling are the common threads in Gane’s foils as a fighter, Hokit is also one of the few heavyweights who can hold a candle to the speed and athleticism that the Frenchman brings to the table.
If Hokit can pressure the current champ without eating a fight-altering counter, then I see the American challenger’s pace forcing some classic errors from Gane.
In victory or defeat, Gane has always been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde when competing on the higher end of the heavyweight spectrum, running the gamut from an athletic savant to a fighter who is suspect to some very silly choices (e.g., grappling when he doesn’t need to or allowing overexcitement to turn himself into a fouling machine when looking for finishes).
I do see Gane being much more resilient to Hokit’s wrestling than many are expecting en route to what I expect will be a strong start from him. However, if Gane fails to punish his brash counterpart early and often, then I suspect that Hokit will be able to steadily grind the fight out of his French foe by putting him through his spin cycle of wrestling, riding and punishing strikes.
The official pick is for Hokit to eventually secure an arm triangle choke by Round 3.
Prediction: Hokit inside the distance
Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit start time, where to watch
As the main event, Gane and Hokit are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 11:10 p.m. ET. The fight streams on Paramount+.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit prediction, pick: Can underdog finish fast rise?
