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UFC’s return to Madison Square Garden features Ciryl Gane title defense

By Thomson Reuters Sep 24, 2026 | 10:13 PM

By Field Level Media

Sep 25 (Field Level Media) – Ciryl Gane will make his first heavyweight title defense against fourth-ranked contender Josh Hokit ​as part of the co-main event at ‌UFC 334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Almost exactly one year later, UFC will make its first return to Madison Square Garden since Nov. ‌15, ​2025 (UFC 322), when Islam Makhachev ⁠defeated Jack Della Maddalena ⁠via unanimous decision in that event’s headliner.

Gane (14-2, 1 no-contest) took down Alex Pereira via TKO in a title fight his last time out on ​June 14 at the White House in Washington. He will take on an undefeated upstart ⁠in Hokit (10-0), who will be ⁠fighting in his first main event.

Gane ​and Hokit will share top billing with co-main event: ​Kayla Harrison versus Amanda Nunes.

Harrison (19-1) is the ‌bantamweight champion but faces a steep challenge from Nunes (23-5), considered by many to be the best female fighter in MMA history.

Other announced bouts include fifth-ranked ⁠Caio Borralho against Yousri Belgaroui in the middleweight division, No. 12 Uros Medic versus Kevin Holland in a ⁠welterweight contest, ‌Bilal Hason facing Luis Gurule in ⁠a flyweight bout, and lightweights Drew Dober ​and ‌Chris Duncan doing battle.

Completing the card ​are Stephen ⁠Thompson-Charles Radtke, Donte Johnson- Baisangur Susurkaev, Jim Miller-Terrance McKinney, Macy Chiasson-Bia Mesquita and Adrian Yanez-Juan Diaz.

This will be the 10th UFC event held at the Garden and the 13th in New York City overall.

(–Field ​Level Media)