UFC 334 has officially received its two major championship fights, with Ciryl Gane defending the undisputed heavyweight title against Josh Hokit and Kayla Harrison facing Amanda Nunes.
The UFC confirmed the headline matchups during the UFC 331 broadcast, setting up a major November event at Madison Square Garden in New York. UFC 334 is scheduled for November 14, with both the heavyweight and women’s bantamweight championships on the line.
Ciryl Gane vs Josh Hokit Confirmed for UFC 334
Ciryl Gane will headline UFC 334 against Josh Hokit in his first defense of the undisputed heavyweight championship. The matchup comes after a major change in the UFC heavyweight title picture involving Gane, Tom Aspinall and Alex Pereira.
Gane most recently competed against Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 in June. He stopped Pereira by second-round TKO to claim the interim heavyweight championship. The situation changed when Aspinall vacated the undisputed title because of ongoing eye issues.
With Aspinall no longer holding the championship, Gane was elevated to undisputed heavyweight champion. His next assignment will now be defending that belt against Hokit at one of the UFC’s most recognizable venues.
The fight also gives Gane an opportunity to establish himself as the division’s undisputed champion after a complicated period at the top of the heavyweight rankings. His victory over Pereira already moved him into a stronger position, and the upcoming title defense will determine whether he can continue that momentum.
How Josh Hokit Earned His Heavyweight Title Shot
Josh Hokit enters UFC 334 with an unbeaten professional record of 10-0. His rise to the championship opportunity has been built around a perfect start to his UFC career and four consecutive victories inside the promotion.
Hokit’s recent run includes a unanimous decision victory over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327. He followed that performance with a second-round knockout of Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250, adding another significant heavyweight name to his record.
Across his professional career, Hokit has recorded six knockout victories and three submission wins. Those numbers highlight the variety in his finishing ability and help explain why the UFC has moved him into a championship opportunity despite his relatively short UFC tenure.
The biggest challenge will now be facing an experienced title-level opponent in Gane. The French heavyweight has already competed in major championship fights and recently shared the Octagon with Pereira in a bout that resulted in a significant victory for his career.
Hokit’s Record Creates an Interesting Title Fight
An undefeated record gives Hokit considerable momentum heading into UFC 334. However, an unbeaten record and championship experience are not the same thing. Gane’s experience in high-level UFC fights will be an important part of the matchup’s context.
The fight therefore brings together two different stages of a heavyweight career: Gane enters as the established champion following a major victory, while Hokit arrives as an undefeated challenger looking to turn his rapid rise into a title-winning performance.
Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes Set for the Co-Main Event
The UFC 334 co-main event will feature another major championship matchup as Kayla Harrison defends the women’s bantamweight title against former two-division champion Amanda Nunes.
Harrison captured the UFC bantamweight championship by submitting Julianna Pena. She will now make the first defense of her title against one of the most accomplished fighters to compete in women’s MMA.
Harrison enters the matchup with a 19-1 professional record. Her record and recent championship success have positioned her as one of the leading figures in the division, but her opponent brings an entirely different level of experience.
Nunes has not competed since defeating Irene Aldana in June 2023. Her return at UFC 334 will therefore mark her first fight in more than three years.
Amanda Nunes Returns After More Than Three Years
Nunes’ comeback adds another major storyline to UFC 334. Before her extended absence, she had established herself as a former UFC champion in two weight classes.
Her last fight came against Irene Aldana in June 2023. Nunes won that contest before stepping away from competition. Her return against Harrison will now immediately put her back into a championship environment.
The length of Nunes’ absence is one of the defining elements of the matchup. She will face a champion who has recently been competing and has already secured the UFC bantamweight title.
At the same time, Nunes’ previous championship experience gives the fight a unique dynamic. The matchup is not simply a contest between a reigning champion and a challenger; it also brings together a current titleholder and a former two-division champion returning after a lengthy break.
The Harrison-Nunes Fight Was Delayed Earlier
The UFC 334 matchup is also significant because Harrison and Nunes were originally scheduled to meet at UFC 324. That contest was postponed after Harrison underwent neck surgery.
UFC CEO Dana White subsequently confirmed that the promotion intended to wait for Harrison rather than immediately replace her. That decision ultimately kept the matchup alive and allowed the UFC to revisit the fight once Harrison was ready to compete again.
The delayed meeting has now been given a new stage at Madison Square Garden. Harrison will enter as the reigning champion, while Nunes will return with another opportunity to compete for UFC gold.
Why the Championship Context Has Changed
The circumstances surrounding the fight are different from what they would have been when it was originally planned. Harrison has since become the women’s bantamweight champion, meaning Nunes is now challenging for the title rather than simply meeting Harrison in a non-title contest.
That change increases the stakes of Nunes’ return and gives Harrison a major first defense immediately after winning the championship.
What UFC 334 Means for Alex Pereira
The confirmation of Gane vs Hokit also affects Alex Pereira’s position in the heavyweight title picture.
Pereira’s team had pushed for an immediate rematch following his loss to Gane at UFC Freedom 250. There had been strong speculation that a second meeting between the two heavyweights could be next, particularly after Pereira’s side publicly lobbied for another opportunity.
The UFC has instead chosen Hokit as Gane’s first challenger. As a result, Pereira will have to wait for another opportunity to challenge for the heavyweight championship.
This does not necessarily remove Pereira from the future title picture, but it means the immediate path back to the belt will not be a rematch with Gane at UFC 334.
UFC 334 Card Gets a Major Championship Doubleheader
With both title fights confirmed, UFC 334 now has a clear championship identity. Gane will defend the undisputed heavyweight title against an undefeated challenger, while Harrison will make her first bantamweight title defense against a returning former champion.
The heavyweight contest brings together Gane’s recent championship momentum and Hokit’s unbeaten rise. The women’s bantamweight fight, meanwhile, combines Harrison’s current status as champion with Nunes’ extensive championship history and return from a long period away from competition.
| Fight | Division | Title Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ciryl Gane vs Josh Hokit | Heavyweight | Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Championship |
| Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes | Women’s Bantamweight | UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship |
Madison Square Garden Set to Host UFC 334
UFC 334 will take place on November 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The venue will host a card featuring two championship contests with very different storylines.
For Gane, the event represents the beginning of his reign as undisputed heavyweight champion. For Hokit, it is the biggest opportunity of his undefeated career.
Harrison will attempt to successfully begin her reign as women’s bantamweight champion, while Nunes will return to competition after more than three years away and immediately challenge for UFC gold.
The combination gives the event a strong mix of championship momentum, an undefeated challenger, a former two-division champion and a highly anticipated return.
What to Expect From the UFC 334 Main Events
The Gane-Hokit matchup will center on whether Hokit can continue his unbeaten run against an established heavyweight champion. Gane enters the fight after stopping Pereira and being elevated from interim champion to undisputed champion following Aspinall’s decision to vacate the belt.
The Harrison-Nunes matchup has a different layer of uncertainty because of Nunes’ extended absence. Harrison is entering her first title defense, while Nunes will attempt to reclaim championship status after her last fight against Aldana in 2023.
Neither matchup needs additional speculation to establish its significance. Both fights already involve championship gold and fighters with distinct paths to UFC 334.
UFC 334: The Confirmed Championship Picture
UFC 334 has now officially secured two championship fights for November 14. Ciryl Gane will defend the undisputed heavyweight championship against undefeated contender Josh Hokit, while Kayla Harrison will put the women’s bantamweight title on the line against Amanda Nunes.
The announcement also settles the immediate heavyweight direction following Gane’s victory over Pereira. Instead of an immediate rematch with Pereira, the UFC has selected Hokit, giving the undefeated heavyweight his first UFC title opportunity.
Meanwhile, Harrison and Nunes will finally meet after their earlier bout was postponed. Harrison arrives as champion, while Nunes returns after more than three years away from competition.
With both championship fights confirmed, UFC 334 now has two central storylines: a heavyweight champion defending against an unbeaten challenger and a women’s bantamweight titleholder facing one of the division’s most accomplished former champions.
Final Verdict
UFC 334 is officially built around two championship matchups: Ciryl Gane vs Josh Hokit for the undisputed heavyweight title and Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes for the women’s bantamweight championship. Gane enters after his victory over Pereira, Hokit brings a 10-0 record, Harrison begins her first title defense, and Nunes returns following a lengthy competitive absence. The event is scheduled for November 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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