Ciryl Gane is officially the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, and somehow, he already has his first title defense locked in for November 14 in New York. The UFC made it official Saturday during the UFC 331 broadcast: Gane will headline UFC 334 inside New York’s famed Madison Square Garden against Josh Hokit. This is a massive turn of events, especially since Gane, a two-time interim champion, got elevated to undisputed status only after Tom Aspinall vacated the belt.
Dana White Pooh-Poohed It, But It’s Happening Anyway
Talk about whiplash! This news dropped less than 24 hours after UFC CEO Dana White publicly shot down the very idea of Gane being promoted to undisputed champ without another fight. White “pooh-poohed” the whole thing, making it clear he didn’t see a path for Gane to just get the belt handed to him. Yet, here we are. Gane, who was already a two-time interim champion, snagged his most recent interim heavyweight title back in June, controversially beating Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 while Aspinall was sidelined. Now, without throwing a single punch for the undisputed belt itself, he’s got the real deal around his waist. He’s putting it on the line quick, too. It’s wild how fast things can change in this sport when injuries force the issue.
Aspinall’s Brutal Reality and Hokit’s Big Shot
The reason for all this sudden, dramatic movement? Tom Aspinall is officially out, and it sounds pretty rough for the former champion. He announced Monday he’s giving up the heavyweight title because of ongoing, severe complications from eye injuries. These aren’t new, either; they date back to his October 2025 fight against Gane, a UFC title bout that notoriously ended in a no-contest. Gane poked Aspinall in both eyes midway through the opening round, leaving him unable to continue. Aspinall remains sidelined indefinitely with no clear timeline for his return, and it gets worse. He suffered another brutal setback to his right eye while getting ready for a Nov. 14 rematch with Gane. Sources say the injury in his right eye is reaggravated, “the same as day one.” Dana White confirmed the severity, saying, “I don’t [know when he’s going to be back],” adding, “This happens sometimes. It’s unfortunate. Not the best outcome, but it is what it is.” That’s a grim, sobering update.
With Aspinall out, Josh Hokit isn’t just getting a shot, he publicly demanded it! After Aspinall’s decision to vacate, Hokit called for his chance to “give Ciryl what he has coming.” Now he gets it, and this is his massive moment to prove he belongs at the top against a newly crowned, undisputed champion. Oh, and don’t forget the co-main: the long-awaited superfight between UFC women’s bantamweight champ Kayla Harrison and UFC Hall of Famer Amanda Nunes has finally been rebooked. UFC 334 on November 14 is going to be absolutely nuts in Madison Square Garden, you won’t want to miss it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply