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Ciryl Gane is preparing for his upcoming heavyweight title defense against Josh Hokit, who is set to challenge him in the main event of UFC 334. While the championship bout will take place at Madison Square Garden, numerous fans anticipate an easy victory for the French fighter.
Gane’s Championship Experience and Hokit’s Undefeated Record
Throughout his career, Gane has faced elite opponents in heavyweight title fights, including Francis Ngannou at UFC 270, Jon Jones at UFC 285, Tom Aspinall at UFC 321, and Alex Pereira at the White House event. Meanwhile, Hokit enters the matchup with an undefeated record of 10-0 following a win over 41-year-old Derrick Lewis, though he has yet to defeat a top-five contender. Questions have also been raised regarding whether his comedic persona and persistent trash talk might prove distracting, similar to his past bout against Curtis Blaydes.
Recognizing the Challenger’s Intelligence
Despite the prevailing expectations, Gane refuses to underestimate his opponent. The champion looks past Hokit’s entertaining demeanor and recognizes that the American possesses significant tactical intelligence, noting on the UFC Countdown that Hokit performed well in his victory over Derrick Lewis.
Gane further discussed Hokit’s promotional tactics, stating, “I’m not a big fan of his approach. I know this guy likes to talk, and other people like the people who talk. For Josh Hokit, he has an opportunity to be an undisputed champion. That’s because he knows how to do some entertainment. He is smart. He is really smart.”
Assessing Hokit’s Skills Inside the Cage
The champion believes the challenger deliberately acts foolish to amuse the audience, but transforms into a serious competitor once the cage door shuts, expressing confidence in delivering a great fight and securing the win. Gane’s perspective is supported by Hokit’s undefeated 10-0 record and his training regimen under Greg Jackson at Jackson Wink MMA.
Hokit also possesses a solid wrestling background as an All-American wrestler who began the sport at age four and started playing football at eight. His notable performance against Blaydes, which earned recognition as a Fight of the Year contender at UFC 327, has further elevated anticipation for the upcoming clash.
Although Gane enters the Madison Square Garden showdown as the favored competitor, overlooking Hokit as merely an entertainer could lead to significant trouble.
