Gane retains heavyweight title in chaotic fight with Hokit
Summarised from 4 outlets · 7 reports · Updated 15 Nov, 07:08 · Archive
Ciryl Gane successfully defended his UFC heavyweight title against Josh Hokit in a wild contest at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
Ciryl Gane successfully defended his UFC heavyweight title against Josh Hokit at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday night. All three judges awarded unanimous scorecards of 48-47 to Gane, giving the Frenchman a successful first defence of the undisputed belt.
Gane had been elevated to undisputed champion in September when Tom Aspinall vacated the regular title. Gane had previously won the interim belt in June by knocking out Alex Pereira. Hokit, an American who signed with the UFC just over a year ago, came into the fight undefeated and as a favourite with the Madison Square Garden crowd.
The fight itself was a wild affair. Hokit immediately shot for a takedown in the opening round and secured another slam late in the first frame. The American's frantic pressure and wild striking made Gane less comfortable than usual, though Gane landed consistently with jabs and uppercuts. Gane appeared tired at points during the fight, and there were moments when the outcome seemed uncertain, with some observers suggesting Hokit could have won.
In one notable incident, Gane landed an eye poke on Hokit in the first round. Hokit complained to referee Marc Goddard, but the referee dismissed the complaint, though a replay confirmed contact. Gane had been involved in similar incidents against Tom Aspinall previously, with those eye pokes resulting in a no-contest.
As the fight progressed into the later rounds, Gane's experience in championship fights proved decisive. Hokit's striking remained effective and he continued to walk forward, but Gane's composure and defensive improvements against takedowns allowed him to maintain control. After the fight, Hokit spoke in the octagon, notably dropping his usual brash character in the wake of his first career loss.
How it is being reported
- Crowd favorite Josh Hokit handed first career loss by Ciryl Gane at UFC 334There was no joy at Madison Square Garden by the end of the night, only vocal displeasure with who was deemed the winner of the UFC 334 heavyweight title fight.New York Post · 15 Nov, 06:56
- Ciryl Gane outlasts Josh Hokit in wild brawl after Amanda Nunes’ ill-fated return at UFC 334Gane outpointed Hokit in a bewildering contest, retaining the heavyweight belt after Kayla Harrison submitted Amanda Nunes in their title fightIndependent Sport · 15 Nov, 06:27
- Ciryl Gane beats Josh Hokit to retain UFC heavyweight title in crazy fightCiryl Gane defeated Josh Hokit in a wild and crazy encounter in New York on Saturday night to retain his UFC heavyweight titleMirror Sport · 15 Nov, 05:57
- How to watch UFC 334: Gane vs Hokit live streams, start time, preview, full cardThe Garden hosts a packed card with two titles on the line – follow our guide to live stream UFC 334 online and watch Ciryl Gane vs Josh Hokit from anywhere.TechRadar · 14 Nov, 23:15
- UFC 334 LIVE: Gane vs Hokit start time, card, fight updates and results tonightCiryl Gane defends his heavyweight belt against the divisive Josh Hokit, after Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes meet in a seismic title fightIndependent Sport · 14 Nov, 23:12
- Gane vs Hokit: UFC 334 start time, card and how to watch fights tonightCiryl Gane defends the heavyweight title against the divisive Josh Hokit, after Kayla Harrison fights Amanda Nunes in one of the biggest women’s bouts in MMA historyIndependent Sport · 14 Nov, 13:17
- UFC 334 UK start time, full fight card and how to watchCiryl Gane will defend his undisputed heavyweight title for the first time against contentious rising star Josh Hokit later this eveningMirror Sport · 14 Nov, 08:00
In this story: Ciryl Gane · Josh Hokit · Madison Square Garden · Tom Aspinall · Alex Pereira · Kayla Harrison · Amanda Nunes · UFC
This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log
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