Ciryl Gane admits he’s sensing a distinct lack of respect for his abilities, as he prepares to attempt to unify the UFC heavyweight world championship in New York City on Sunday NZT.
Currently the holder of the interim world title, the Frenchman will square off with Josh Hokit in the headline act of UFC 334 in a bid to become the division’s undisputed king under the bright lights of the famous Madison Square Garden.
Watch UFC 334: Gane vs Hokit via pay-per-view on TVNZ+ from 1pm, Sunday
The 36-year-old is fresh off a statement win over Brazilian Alex Pereira, where he shocked the MMA world with a second-round TKO of the highly favoured former dual-division champion during the UFC’s historic event on President Donald Trump’s front lawn in June.
However, the win – the most impressive of Gane’s career - was somewhat tarnished by Pereira’s claims he’d been struck illegally to the back of his head.
That performance came after a controversy-plagued title challenge against then-champion Tom Aspinall. Accidental eye pokes by Gane forced Aspinall to retire, causing extensive damage. The Brit subsequently relinquished his belt due to the ongoing eye issues which have prevented him competing, accusing Gane of deliberately targeting his eyes.
Before that fight-ending incident, Gane had looked the superior fighter and although the bout only lasted the best part of a round, an upset seemed to be brewing.
Gane has taken considerable criticism for both, which he conceded has created a frustrating and overshadowing narrative.
“I am feeling a bit disrespected,” Gane told 1News.
“Professional referee specialists have said I never did anything wrong, but everyone is talking about whether I was cheating. Maybe it’s just because (Pereira) had a bad performance and he’s trying to find an excuse.
“The fight (against Aspinall) started very well for me… I pressured him and everybody saw that was not exactly what he expected. After that he tried to say some stuff about me being a cheater. I don’t know why exactly. It was one year ago and people are still talking about it.”
Any bout against the unashamedly brash Hokit is fought almost as much outside the Octagon as inside it, and Gane said he’s bracing for the battiness against the wildly unpredictable American.
A relative newcomer who has added some much-needed spark to the fledgling heavyweight division, Hokit has dialled his pro-wrestling persona up to 11, unabashedly pulling no punches with his press conference and post-fight tirades.
Hokit made headlines across the world when he called former First Lady Michelle Obama "a man” during the UFC’s surreal night out on The White House lawn.
The pro-wrestling persona has undeniably paid dividends for Hokit, but Gane refuses to let it distract from the very genuine threat his well-rounded opponent poses, insisting he isn’t buying into the façade.
Before transitioning to MMA, the former All-American wrestler spent time with both the San Franciso 49ers and Arizona Cardinals practice squads, and possesses the explosive blend of athleticism and power you might expect from an aspiring NFL tight end.
“He pretends he’s a clown but he has good fight IQ. He doesn’t have much experience, but he’s done very well already in the cage against good fighters,” he said of Hokit.
“He’s going to try to push forward like he always does, no surprises, and I’m going to do the same and try to manage the distance.
“Hokit is a great athlete. He’s going to lose on (Sunday), but I’m pretty sure this is the next generation of heavyweight.”
If Gane were to have his hand raised this weekend, it would be the crowning achievement in a career widely considered to be on a downward spiral after his first-round submission defeat to Jon Jones back in 2023.
‘Bon Gamin’ puts the turnaround down to his maturing mindset, employing specialist coaching to fortify the all-important top two inches.
“We worked on that a lot after the fight with Jones.
“We made it a focus with my mental coach and build something really strong around me.”
Watch UFC 334: Gane vs Hokit via pay-per-view on TVNZ+ from 1pm, Sunday
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