Former UFC heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic is backing Ciryl Gane to beat Josh Hokit at UFC 334, and he’s not buying the argument that the Frenchman shouldn’t be heavyweight champion. The former two-time titleholder sees experience and distance control deciding Saturday’s main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Gane enters the November 14 fight at 14-2, with one no-contest, against a challenger who has reached 10-0 after just four UFC appearances. Hokit has moved quickly, but Miocic thinks Gane’s rounds against opponents including Francis Ngannou, Jon Jones and Alex Pereira give him an advantage.
Stipe Miocic Picks Gane Over Hokit at UFC 334, Says He Deserves Heavyweight Crown
“It’s Gane. He’s seasoned, he’s been there and he’s very smart at what he does,” Miocic said in an interview with Casino.org. “Hokit is a great wrestler and he hits hard, but Gane likes keeping his distance and not making many mistakes.” His pick comes with a condition: Gane needs to keep the fight at his preferred range rather than let Hokit turn it into a wrestling match.
Miocic isn’t dismissing the challenger. Hokit earned his shot after beating Derrick Lewis in June, extending a UFC winning streak that began with his promotional debut last November. Miocic sees opportunities if Hokit can force Gane backward and make him work against the fence.
“If Hokit can get him up against the cage, tire him out and utilise his clinch and body work, I think that could definitely take a toll on Gane,” Miocic said. He suggested pressure, angles and takedowns, while acknowledging that he hasn’t watched much of Hokit’s career.
Getting close carries its own problems, though. Miocic warned that wrestling entries leave Hokit exposed to punches, kicks and knees. Then there’s the five-round assignment, a different demand from getting opponents out early. “I don’t care how great a shape you’re in, you’re definitely gonna feel it when you’re not used to it,” Miocic said. “But, I think if Gane just keeps his distance, he can pick Hokit apart.”
Gane became undisputed champion in September after Tom Aspinall vacated the belt amid continuing eye problems. Their October 2025 fight at UFC 321 ended in a no-contest following an eye poke. While Aspinall was sidelined, Gane beat Pereira for the interim championship at the UFC’s White House event in June. The intended Aspinall rematch never materialised.
“I believe he deserves to be champion. He was next up,” Miocic said, pointing to Gane’s position in the division and the planned rematch. “He was in line and he was ranked highest. I believe he 100% deserves it.” Miocic also defended Gane over the foul, offering his assessment rather than evidence of intent: “I think it was an accidental poke. Gane was in the driver’s seat and didn’t need to do anything reckless.”
