The UFC heavyweight championship will be contested at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, November 14, as Ciryl Gane defends his belt against Josh Hokit. The event, designated as UFC 334, also features a highly anticipated women's bantamweight title fight that many consider one of the most significant in the sport's history. Both main events are set to take place under the iconic roof of the New York City venue.
The heavyweight division has experienced considerable instability in recent years. The departure of Francis Ngannou, the retirement of Jon Jones, and an eye injury sustained by Tom Aspinall left the title picture in flux. However, Gane has emerged as a stabilizing force after knocking out Alex Pereira in a bout held at The White House. Having previously challenged each of those three fighters for the championship, Gane is now eager to increase his activity as the reigning titleholder.
His opponent, Josh Hokit, has made a rapid ascent to the top of the division. From a UFC debutant to a title challenger, Hokit accomplished this transition in just one year. A victory over Gane would cement one of the most impressive first twelve months in promotion history, comparable to the early runs of fighters like Alex Pereira, Israel Adesanya, and Brock Lesnar. While some critics view his style as theatrical, his performance against Curtis Blaydes demonstrated that he is a serious contender.
The co-main event features Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, defending her UFC bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes. Nunes is widely regarded as the greatest women's MMA athlete of all time, with victories over former champions including Ronda Rousey, Valentina Shevchenko, Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm, Germaine de Randamie, and Miesha Tate. This matchup carries added weight due to Harrison's return from career-threatening neck surgery and Nunes' comeback from a three-year retirement.
Fans are encouraged to watch the entire card, which includes compelling bouts from the main event to the prelims. One notable fight is the retirement of Stephen Thompson, a former title challenger who has competed in mixed martial arts for more than 15 years. Known as Wonderboy, Thompson will take his final bow this weekend against Charles Radtke in the welterweight division.
The complete fight card for UFC 334 includes several other high-profile matchups. In the middleweight division, Caio Borralho faces Yousri Belgaroui, while Uros Medic takes on Kevin Holland in the welterweight class. The flyweight division features Bilal Hasan against Luis Gurule, a bout where Hasan is a significant favorite according to the odds.
Additional bouts on the card include lightweights Drew Dober versus Chris Duncan and Jim Miller facing Terrance McKinney. Middleweight Donte Johnson is scheduled to fight Cesar Almeida, while Jared Gordon meets Melquizael Costa in the lightweight division. Women's bantamweights Macy Chiasson will face Bia Mesquita, and bantamweights Adrian Yanez will take on Juan Diaz.
The event is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET for the main card. Viewers can watch the full event through Paramount+, which includes all UFC numbered events and Fight Nights with a subscription. Plans for the streaming service start as low as $8.99 per month or $89.99 per year.
The inclusion of these top-tier fights at a legendary venue highlights the current depth of the UFC roster. With both title fights offering compelling narratives and high stakes, the event is positioned to be a major spectacle for combat sports fans in the coming days.
