Ciryl Gane is set to defend his heavyweight championship against Josh Hokit in the main event of UFC 334, an event highlighted by “intense pre-fight animosity”.
The matchup follows a period of controversy for Gane, who rose to the top of the division after Tom Aspinall relinquished his belt due to a severe eye injury.
Aspinall sustained that injury during a bout at UFC 321 after receiving a double eye poke from Gane, an incident documented by “official fight footage”.
Despite the injury, Gane faced no disciplinary action and later defeated Alex Pereira to claim the interim title before being elevated to undisputed champion.
Looking ahead to the upcoming title defense, Aspinall shared his technical analysis in an interview with Cloudbet.
Regarding the potential outcome, Aspinall stated, “I think Gane’s going to win”.
He further elaborated on the tactical battle, noting, “I would say Ciryl Gane would do a late stoppage by strikes, fourth or fifth round”.
Aspinall suggested that Hokit’s tendency to exhaust his energy early could prove fatal to his chances, a trend observed during his previous performance against Curtis Blaydes as shown in “UFC 327 highlights”.
While Hokit has attempted to provoke Gane, famously claiming during a face-off that “the past is put in a f*cking casket”, Aspinall remains skeptical of an upset.
The former champion noted that while an ugly, physical fight might offer a path for Hokit, he believes Gane’s footwork and pace will ultimately secure the win.
Aspinall is currently targeting a return to the octagon in 2027 and may eventually challenge for the title himself depending on the result of this weekend’s contest.
Gane enters the bout at Madison Square Garden looking to solidify his standing as the undisputed heavyweight king.