Ciryl Gane goes into UFC 334 as the undisputed heavyweight champion, making the first defence of his title against Josh Hokit. Here's what you need to know before you lock in your pick.
How he got here
Gane won the interim title by stopping Alex Pereira in round 2 at UFC Freedom 250 in June. When Tom Aspinall vacated the belt in September, Gane was promoted to undisputed champion.
He was already the first Frenchman to win UFC gold, when he took the interim title from Derrick Lewis in 2021.
How he wins
Gane is 14-2 with one no contest. Seven of his wins came by knockout, three by submission and four on the scorecards.
He came to MMA unbeaten in Muay Thai, and it shows. He fights at long range behind feints, his jab and kicks, and he lands 62% of his significant strikes, according to UFC stats. He has never been knocked out.
The question mark
Both of Gane's losses came when the fight hit the mat. Francis Ngannou took him down and out-wrestled him over five rounds at UFC 270, and Jon Jones submitted him with a guillotine choke in the first round at UFC 285.
Hokit is an All-American wrestler. If he can close the distance and get Gane down, this is the kind of fight Gane has struggled with. If it stays standing, it's the champ's fight to lose.
A common opponent
Both men have beaten Derrick Lewis. Gane stopped him in round 3 to win the interim title in 2021. Hokit stopped him in round 2 at UFC Freedom 250 in June.
What the Realm thinks
At the time of writing, the Realm is split almost down the middle: 52% have Hokit and 48% have Gane. In the co-main, 65% have Kayla Harrison over Amanda Nunes.
UFC 334 is also the final card of FR25, our November competition, and every pick counts toward Season 1 too.
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