Gane to defend heavyweight crown against Hokit at UFC 334 in Madison Square Garden
Ciryl Gane will defend the heavyweight title against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 on Saturday night, November 14, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The card also features a co-main event in the women’s bantamweight division between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes.
Gane was elevated to undisputed champion after Tom Aspinall vacated the belt and his recent meeting with Aspinall ended in a no-contest following an accidental double eye poke that left the champion unable to continue. His interim-title victory over Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 was a second-round TKO that drew scrutiny amid allegations several strikes landed to the back of Pereira’s head and criticism of referee Herb Dean’s handling of the sequence. Hokit, a 28-year-old American, has generated attention for outspoken behaviour, provocative trash talk and controversial pre-fight antics since earning a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2025.
The co-main pits two-time Olympic gold medallist Kayla Harrison against Amanda Nunes, described in coverage as the consensus G.O.A.T. and a former two-division champion. That pairing was initially booked for UFC 324 but was cancelled when Harrison withdrew due to a neck injury that required surgery; Harrison is returning from what the coverage describes as a career-threatening operation, while Nunes is returning after her initial retirement in June 2023 with questions raised about ring rust.
UFC is returning to Madison Square Garden for its annual event on November 14, 2026. In the United States the promotion will stream the show live on Paramount+, with the Early Prelims also available on UFC Fight Pass; promotional material for the event indicates a 9pm ET start on Paramount+.
The heavyweight matchup is framed in the coverage as an opportunity to restore movement to a division that has not seen a title change since Francis Ngannou defeated Stipe Miocic in 2021 at UFC 260. Coverage notes Gane has faced significant fan backlash following the Aspinall no-contest and the controversy surrounding the Pereira stoppage, placing the champion under added scrutiny heading into the Madison Square Garden headliner.
Hokit is presented as one of the sport’s most talked-about rising heavyweights and, despite Gane being viewed as the favourite on paper, the material states Hokit has the chance to deliver a career-defining performance and claim the title at MSG. His rapid rise since the Contender Series appearance in August 2025 is cited as context for the significance of this opportunity.
For viewers in India the event will be available on Sony Sports Network, with the Prelims scheduled for 9:30 PM IST and the Main Card scheduled for 11:30 PM IST. The promotion’s stated broadcast arrangements and the November 14 date confirm the timeline for fans in the listed markets to watch UFC 334.