Ciryl Gane vs Josh Hokit Predictions & Picks – Gane To KO Hokit In UFC 334 Main Event
- Ciryl Gane tipped to win by KO/TKO against Josh Hokit
- Gane’s elite striking and experience give him a clear edge
- Hokit’s inexperience and recklessness could be his undoing
Ciryl Gane (Getty Images)
Ciryl Gane vs Josh Hokit Predictions & Picks
Ciryl Gane is tipped to retain the UFC heavyweight title via knockout.
Gane combines elite striking skill with good defensive grappling, and he also boasts a serious experience advantage, having competed at the top of the division for several years.
All of this means he can dictate pace and distance as he wears down and ultimately stops Hokit.
- Ciryl Gane is 11-2 with 1 No Contest in the UFC
- 4 of Ciryl Gane’s last 5 wins have come via KO/TKO
- Josh Hokit is fighting for a title for the first time in his career
Ciryl Gane Form
Ciryl Gane is the reigning and defending UFC heavyweight champion with a professional record of 14-2 (7 KOs, 3 Subs) with 1 No Contest.
Gane first joined the UFC back in 2019 and immediately climbed the heavyweight ladder by winning his first six fights for the promotion.
That earned him a shot at the interim title in August 2021, and he took his big opportunity by knocking out Derrick Lewis in the third round.
The 36-year-old Frenchman failed to become the undisputed champion though, as he suffered a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Francis Ngannou the following year.
Gane rebounded with a third-round knockout of Tai Tuivasa, only to again come up short in a UFC title fight as he was submitted by Jon Jones in the first round of their fight for the vacant championship.
‘Bon Gamin’ again responded quickly to a loss, knocking out Serghei Spivac in the second before edging a split decision win over Alexander Volkov.
However, his third attempt to become UFC heavyweight champion ended in disappointment, as an eye poke left Tom Aspinall unable to continue, resulting in the fight being declared a No Contest.
Gane did claim the interim crown in June though, knocking out Alex Pereira in the second round at The White House, and he was later upgraded to full champion status.
Josh Hokit Form
Josh Hokit is the number four ranked heavyweight contender with a professional record of 10-0 (6 KOs, 3 Subs).
Hokit arrived in the UFC last year following a successful appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series in the August, and he wasted little time in making an impact.
He ended the year with a 56-second demolition of Max Gimenis, and followed that up in January of this year when he stopped Denzel Freeman in the first round.
The 28-year-old American stepped up a level in April and out-pointed Curtis Blaydes over three rounds.
Hokit then scored the biggest win of his career to date in June, as he knocked out Derrick Lewis in the second round of their fight at the UFC Freedom 250 event.
Verdict
Josh Hokit has proven to be a dangerous fighter in the heavyweight division, but recklessness and inexperience could be his undoing.
Ciryl Gane is an intelligent striker with good wrestling skills, and not only does he have the ability to dictate how this fight plays out, he also has the power to end this inside five rounds.
Ciryl Gane is an intelligent striker with good wrestling skills, and not only does he have the ability to dictate how this fight plays out, he also has the power to end this inside five rounds.
Leigh Copson
Sports Editor • 25+ Years Experience, US & Combat Sports Specialist
US sports writer covering the NFL, NBA, NHL, boxing and MMA, with previews, predictions and betting tips across the major American leagues.
During his career at the Press Association and online sports sites including FreeTips and ExpertPicks.com, he has covered some of the biggest sporting events on the planet, including the Super Bowl, the Champions League Final and the World Cup Final.
He has also covered almost every major boxing match and UFC fight card during this time.. His specialist sports are American Football, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and Football.