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Gane Defends Heavyweight Title Against Hokit at UFC 334 in New York

Heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane defended his belt against unbeaten Josh Hokit in the UFC 334 main event at Madison Square Garden, with Kayla Harrison facing Amanda Nunes in the co-main. Here is what was at stake and how the card was set up.

By Elena Vance

November 14, 20262 min read

Gane Defends Heavyweight Title Against Hokit at UFC 334 in New York

The UFC tonight card on Saturday, November 14, 2026, was headlined by heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane defending his belt against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 inside Madison Square Garden in New York. Paramount+ carried the event live.

Kayla Harrison put her women's bantamweight title on the line in the co-main event against Amanda Nunes.

Schedule and stakes

Prelims began at 5 p.m. ET and the main card at 7 p.m. ET, both on Paramount+. The Gane-Hokit title fight was scheduled for five rounds, with the main event set for 9 p.m. ET.

Gane (14-2) won the interim title by knocking out Alex Pereira on the White House lawn. UFC then made him the undisputed champion, and this was his first defense. It was his sixth UFC title fight, and he went in 2-2-1 in the previous five.

Hokit, 28, came in 10-0, including 4-0 in the UFC with three knockouts. A former Fresno State football player, he turned professional about three years ago. He was virtually unknown a year earlier.

The villain role

Hokit built his profile as much with his mouth as his fists. He made vulgar remarks about former first lady Michelle Obama in June at the White House and posted 9/11 jokes on the anniversary of the attacks.

UFC CEO Dana White said on "The Jim Rome Show" on Nov. 4 that he does not like "anything Josh Hokit says." White has also said Hokit earned this title shot.

Hokit showed no sign of backing down during fight week in New York. "I'll never look back and regret it," he said.

Harrison vs. Nunes

Harrison and Nunes have been on a collision course since Harrison joined the American Top Team gym in South Florida in 2018. Nunes was already champion then and says she saw Harrison wanted her place. Harrison says she wanted to build something alongside her.

The fight was first booked for January 2026. Harrison withdrew weeks before to have two-level spinal fusion surgery on a neck injury she had carried for years.

Nunes returned from a 3½-year retirement to challenge for the belt.

Gane held the size and striking advantages on paper, according to Yahoo Sports' preview. Neither fighter has shown much ground game, so a takedown could have been a deciding factor.