
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026 Early Prelims: 5:00 PM ET Prelims: 7:00 PM ET Main Card: 9:00 PM ET Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York TV/Streaming: Paramount+ Main Event: Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit — UFC Heavyweight Championship
UFC 334 brings two championship fights to Madison Square Garden, headlined by heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane defending against undefeated No. 4 contender Josh Hokit. The co-main event features Kayla Harrison defending the women’s bantamweight championship against returning former two-division champion Amanda Nunes.
Ciryl Gane: Approximately -205 Josh Hokit: Approximately +170
Gane enters as a clear but manageable favorite. The official UFC listing has the champion at -205 and Hokit at +170, while the broader market is averaging roughly -200 on Gane and +165 on the challenger.
Gane enters at 14-2 with seven knockout victories and three submissions. He captured interim heavyweight gold for the second time by stopping Alex Pereira in Round 2 at UFC Freedom 250 and was later elevated to undisputed champion after Tom Aspinall vacated the belt.
The French champion remains one of heavyweight MMA’s most technically advanced strikers.
Gane lands approximately 5.40 significant strikes per minute while absorbing only 2.31, with 61 percent significant-strike defense. His movement, kicking arsenal and ability to control distance are unusual for a 240-pound heavyweight.
Hokit presents a dramatically different challenge.
The former Division I wrestler and football player enters 10-0, with six knockouts, three submissions and six first-round finishes. His remarkable rise includes recent victories over veteran heavyweights Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis.
Hokit’s path is obvious: wrestle.
Gane’s official takedown-defense rate is only 47 percent, an important concern against an opponent whose physical strength and relentless grappling have driven his rapid rise.
Hokit cannot allow Gane to establish open-space kickboxing. The challenger needs to pressure immediately, force Gane backward and repeatedly connect wrestling attempts together.
Gane needs exactly the opposite.
He should use lateral movement, front kicks and straight punches to make Hokit cross distance. Every failed takedown provides another opportunity for the champion to make the inexperienced challenger pay.
The experience difference is enormous.
Gane has competed in multiple UFC championship fights and has faced elite heavyweights for years. Hokit is fighting for the championship only 53 weeks after making his UFC debut.
That makes pacing important.
If Hokit cannot secure meaningful early control, maintaining a wrestling-heavy strategy for five rounds against Gane could become increasingly difficult.
Gane is the strongest overall selection.
He is bigger, more experienced and vastly more proven over five rounds. At approximately -205, the price is reasonable compared with many heavyweight championship favorites.
Current markets price the fight not to reach the scorecards around -260.
Hokit has finished nine of his 10 victories, while Gane owns 10 finishes among 14 wins. Five heavyweight rounds create numerous opportunities for a stoppage.
Gane by knockout is available around +130 to +145, providing far better value than his moneyline.
If Gane consistently defends Hokit’s entries, the difference in striking sophistication should become increasingly pronounced.
Hokit by submission is the strongest long-shot alternative.
The price is approximately +800, and three of Hokit’s victories have come by submission.
If the challenger wins, forcing Gane into prolonged grappling exchanges is his clearest route.
Ciryl Gane: Maintain lateral movement, attack with kicks, punish level changes, avoid backing straight toward the fence and force Hokit to wrestle from long range.
Josh Hokit: Pressure immediately, eliminate open space, chain takedowns together, make Gane carry his weight and avoid prolonged kickboxing exchanges.
Ciryl Gane: The newly undisputed champion attempts to establish stability atop the heavyweight division.
Josh Hokit: The undefeated 10-0 challenger could complete one of the fastest rises from UFC newcomer to champion in promotional history.
Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes: Harrison defends the bantamweight championship against arguably the greatest women’s MMA fighter ever in the co-main event.
Caio Borralho vs. Yousri Belgaroui: The No. 5-ranked middleweight faces the surging former elite kickboxer in an important contender matchup.
Uroš Medić vs. Kevin Holland: Medić brings four consecutive first-round stoppages into a dangerous welterweight matchup with Holland.
Prediction: Ciryl Gane by Third-Round TKO
Best Bet: Ciryl Gane Moneyline
Best Supporting Prop: Fight Does Not Go the Distance
Best Method-of-Victory Bet: Ciryl Gane by KO/TKO
Long-Shot Bet: Josh Hokit by Submission
Hokit should create uncomfortable moments early.
His wrestling and physical pressure directly attack one of the weaker areas in Gane’s statistical profile.
But the challenger cannot afford failed entries.
Expect Gane to initially fight cautiously, circling away from the fence and attacking Hokit’s body and legs.
As Hokit’s takedown attempts become slower, Gane’s striking advantage should take over.
By Round 3, the champion begins landing longer combinations as Hokit struggles to close distance. Gane connects with a clean counter, forces the challenger backward and follows with punches and knees until the referee intervenes.
Ciryl Gane wins by third-round TKO, successfully defends the UFC Heavyweight Championship and hands Josh Hokit the first loss of his professional career.

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