UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane will make his first full title defense against undefeated Josh Hokit at UFC 334 on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Gane, 36, became the first French-born UFC champion after winning the interim title with a second-round TKO of Alex Pereira in June and being upgraded to undisputed champion in September when Tom Aspinall vacated the belt due to eye injuries.
The buildup has been dominated by accusations that Gane fights dirty. Six of his last six UFC opponents, including Alexander Volkov, Serghei Spivac, Jon Jones, and Tai Tuivasa, have publicly complained about his conduct. Former UFC fighter and analyst Dustin Poirier said Gane's repeated illegal strikes — eye pokes, blows to the back of the head, and low blows — are "dirty, for sure," though he questioned whether they are intentional.
Gane dismissed the criticism, saying he is "too happy, too full of love" to be stressed. His trainer, Fernand Lopez, defended Gane, citing referee Herb Dean's analysis that the strikes against Pereira were legal under unified rules. Lopez argued that opponents who continue to complain after the referee's ruling are not respecting the officiating.
Poirier, who has experienced illegal strikes in his own career, emphasized the need for better instant replay review and suggested fighters should alert referees during pre-fight instructions if they expect fouls. He also warned against immediate retaliation, which can disrupt a fighter's composure.
Hokit, 10-0, was dismissive of the narrative but vowed to retaliate if Gane commits fouls, describing an escalating series of responses. Gane said he believes his peers understand his true character and that he has moved past the controversy.
