Ciryl Gane vs Josh Hokit: Odds and prediction for UFC 334 in New York

By Klimentijs Konevs | Published: October 28, 2026, 12:15

UFC 334 is our next big stop on the UFC calendar, with Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit set to headline the event at Madison Square Garden in New York on November 14. The two heavyweights will battle for the UFC heavyweight title.

Gane originally won the interim heavyweight title by defeating Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 in June. He was later promoted to undisputed champion after Tom Aspinall vacated the belt due to his ongoing eye injury. Interestingly, Hokit also earned his title shot on the same night, setting up this championship clash.

In this Gane vs Hokit prediction, our experts analyse both fighters' recent form, strengths and chances of winning the bout.

Unsurprisingly, Gane enters this fight as the heavy favourite, with different bookmakers offering odds below 1.40 for his victory. Meanwhile, Hokit comes in as the clear underdog, with odds hovering around 3.00 for him to pull off an upset.

Gane is eight years older than Hokit, but he also has a significant size advantage. The Frenchman stands four inches taller and weighs 17 lbs more than his opponent. However, his biggest advantage is his reach, which is eight inches longer than Hokit’s. This could play a major role in the fight, especially when it comes to keeping his opponent at distance.

Bon Gamin has been around the top of the heavyweight division for quite some time. He has held the interim title twice and challenged for the undisputed belt three times. His fight with the previous champion, Tom Aspinall, ended in a no contest following an eye poke. However, the Frenchman looked much more convincing during the brief time they spent in the Octagon.

His victory over Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 brought him another title, but not without controversy. The Brazilian accused Gane of landing illegal shots to the back of his head. In fact, Gane has faced criticism for questionable tactics throughout his career, including cage grabbing, eye pokes and low blows.

Still, there's no denying that Gane is a unique heavyweight. He is incredibly fast for his size, light on his feet and knows how to use his reach to control the distance.

His first-round submission defeat to Jon Jones will be the obvious talking point for Hokit’s team, as he could look to exploit Gane's wrestling weaknesses on the ground. However, getting close enough to take him down will be a challenge in itself.

Gane's last fights

Former American football player began his MMA career just three years ago and has already put together an impressive 10-fight winning streak. However, the level of his opposition has never been particularly high. His victory over Curtis Blaydes is probably the only one that deserves serious recognition, as Hokit went the full three rounds and secured a unanimous decision win.

His victory over Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 was hardly surprising either. Lewis is a 41-year-old veteran, and the matchup felt more like an opportunity to further promote Hokit's growing persona than a serious test.

Outside the Octagon, The Incredible Hok has built a rather strange media character, often talking nonsense and acting bizarrely. Unfortunately, that seems to be exactly what attracts attention these days.

It's difficult to see what Hokit can bring to the table against Gane. His best chance will likely be to close the distance, attempt takedowns and rely on his wrestling. Trying to stand and trade punches with a much bigger and faster opponent could be a disastrous approach.

Hokit's last fights

This fight doesn't make much sense from a sporting perspective. The only real explanation is that Hokit has caught a wave of media attention and stayed very active over the past year. Meanwhile, Gane has an opportunity to put an end to ex-footballer's rapid rise and gain even more attention in the process.

Bon Gamin has incredibly fast hands for a heavyweight, and he will use his reach to keep Hokit at distance. He won't rush for a finish, instead taking his time and controlling the fight. The Incredible Hok is already quite small for a heavyweight, but the size difference becomes even more obvious when standing opposite Gane.

Overall, it's hard to find even one convincing reason why Hokit should win this fight. Unless he can somehow take Gane down and keep him there, the champion should have little trouble defending his title.

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