A Josh Hokit title reign in the UFC will remain a thing of fantasy – for now.
In the UFC 334 main event, Ciryl Gane retained his heavyweight title via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47). The bout headlined Saturday's card at Madison Square Garden.
The five-round fight was as high-paced a heavyweight bout as fans will ever seen. Hokit (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) stepped on the gas right out of the gate, shooting for a takedown in the opening seconds. Gane (15-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC) appeared overwhelmed, unable to set himself and work his signature technical striking, but didn't allow Hokit to obtain any significant ground position.
Hokit somehow found another gear in Round 2 and appeared to be on a pace that would be insurmountable for Gane to overcome.
He wildly chucked punches at the big Frenchman, never giving him any space or the ability to breathe. Round 3 was more of the same. Gane had his mouth open, sucking wind. His volume was low. He appeared to be coming to a screeching halt.
That's when somehow Gane found his second wind and Hokit began to slow. Gane utilized short body punches in the clinch. At distance, he integrated his kicks into his attack for the first time in the fight. In Round 5, both men seemed energized, potentially by the prospect of the finish line being in sight. Ultimately, Gane tested Hokit's chin more than he had in the 20 minutes prior. To Hokit's credit, he ate what Gane threw and kept moving forward.
When the final bell sounded, the crowd was already on its feet. Gane grabbed the top of the cage and took a breath as Hokit flipped him off (as he had done several times during the bout). But it was Gane who got the last laugh.
HUGE SLAM BY JOSH HOKIT 😳
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) November 15, 2026
[ #UFC334 | LIVE on @paramountplus ] pic.twitter.com/Oqxs8H4jtY
Josh Hokit flips off Ciryl Gane at the end of RD 3 😂
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) November 15, 2026
[ #UFC334 | LIVE on @paramountplus ] pic.twitter.com/yI9ceJfgDP
WE GO THE DISTANCE
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) November 15, 2026
How did you score it?
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Gane moves to 4-0 with one contest in his most recent five outings. He won interim gold in June with a TKO stoppage of Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250. When champion Tom Aspinall vacated the title due to an extended eye injury (caused by a Gane eye poke), Gane was named champion. Saturday's win marks his first title defense.
Hokit loses for the first time as a pro MMA fighter. The former San Francisco 49ers player had a wrestling background and entered the MMA universe through Bellator. When the brand was absorbed by PFL, Hokit went to LFA. His work there earned him a shot on Dana White's Contender Series, and it was around this time he developed a controversial, shock value-generating, WWE-esque character that has garnered him much attention outside the cage. It was his performances inside the cage, including an insane back-and-forth brawl with Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in March that helped push him toward Saturday's opportunity.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 334 results:
- Ciryl Gane def. Josh Hokit via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
- Kayla Harrison def. Amanda Nunes via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 4, 1:29
- Caio Borralho def. Yousri Belgaroui via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Kevin Holland vs. Uros Medic declared majority draw (29-27 Medic, 28-28, 28-28)
- Luis Gurule def. Bilal Hasan via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Stephen Thompson def. Charles Radtke via TKO (head kick, punches) – Round 3, 2:54
- Chris Duncan def. Drew Dober via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Terrance McKinney def. Jim Miller via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:53
- Cesar Almeida def. Donte Johnson via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:20
- Melquizael Costa def. Jared Gordon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Bia Mesquita def. Macy Chiasson via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:23
- Juan Diaz def. Heili Alateng via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Evan Elder def. Samuel Sanches via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 334 results: Ciryl Gane denies Josh Hokit title reign, wins all-time brawl
