Thursday marked the 33rd anniversary of UFC 1, which took place in Denver and is widely regarded as the official birth of modern mixed martial arts.
Looking ahead, UFC 334 on Saturday at New York’s Madison Square Garden will occur almost exactly a decade after the UFC debuted at that venue with UFC 205 in 2016.
UFC 334 is headlined by two title fights: France’s Ciryl Gane will defend his heavyweight title against ex-NFL-practice-squad-player-turned-UFC star Josh Hokit, while the co-main event features Kayla Harrison defending her UFC bantamweight title against Brazil’s Amanda Nunes, who returns from a three-year retirement.
Hokit (10-0 MMA) has burst onto the scene over the past two years, earning a title shot with a TKO victory over Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 in June as part of the promotion’s trip to the White House in Washington.
Hokit told reporters at the pre-fight press conference on Thursday how much he has embraced the moment of becoming one of the heavyweight division’s rising contenders, now one win away from capturing the title.
“No one’s trying to do anything in this division,” Hokit said. “(I am) an overnight sensation. Ten years in the making. All the s— that I’ve been through — wrestling since I was 4, playing football since I was 7 — it has prepared me for this moment. So, I’m gonna prove that this Saturday.”
Gane (14-2 MMA) was promoted to undisputed champion as England’s Tom Aspinall remained sidelined with eye injuries sustained during the UFC 321 main event against Gane. Their bout on Oct. 25, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was declared a no-contest.
Gane said he is unbothered by Hokit, admitting that he is only focused on the fight.
“Who cares?” Gane asked. “It doesn’t matter.”
UFC CEO Dana White, who has publicly condemned Hokit’s actions following controversial comments this summer toward former first lady Michelle Obama — whom Hokit called “a man” in a viral post-fight interview following his win against Lewis — addressed his feelings about the possibility of Hokit becoming champion Saturday night.
“Listen, he’s here (in this position),” White said. “It’s another thing to come out here (on fight night) and prove it. And he deserves to be here, whether you like what he says or don’t like what he says.”
Regarding the co-main event, Harrison (19-1 MMA) and Nunes (23-5 MMA) shared mutual respect despite being former training partners at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla.
“Pretty cool,” Nunes said. “I’m motivated. This is huge for Brazil. I’m very excited. I feel like this is history. Being part of this, with all the Brazilians. Fighting here is amazing. I’m gonna share with them, and they’re going to share with me. So, let’s go.”
Harrison said the only person she needs to impress is herself, visibly frustrated by the overwhelming support Nunes received at the Infosys Theater on Thursday.
“I respect everyone,” Harrison said as she and Nunes went from friendly to trash talk. “I fear no one.”
The five-fight main card begins at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+.
UFC 334 main card:
Ciryl Gane (14-2) vs. Josh Hokit (10-0), for Gane’s UFC heavyweight title
Kayla Harrison (19-1) vs. Amanda Nunes (23-5), Harrison’s UFC bantamweight title
Caio Borralho (18-2) vs. Yousri Belgaroui (11-3), middleweight
Uros Medic (14-3) vs. Kevin Holland (29-15), welterweight
Bilal Hasan (10-0) vs. Luis Gurule (11-4), flyweight
–Field Level Media
