Gane, 36, entered the fight as the defending champion after winning the interim UFC heavyweight championship in June with a TKO victory over Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250. He has compiled a professional record of 14 wins, 2 losses, and 1 no contest, having joined the UFC in 2019 after beginning his career in 2018. His first loss came on January 22, 2022, when he was defeated by unanimous decision by Francis Ngannou for the UFC heavyweight championship. Since then, Gane has won three of his last four bouts, with the other result being a no contest.
Challenger Josh Hokit, 28, fought out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, attempting to secure his first UFC title. The undefeated fighter, with a 10-0 record, earned the championship opportunity after four wins in the preceding 12 months. His most recent victory was a TKO over Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250. Hokit’s rapid ascent included a stint on Dana White’s Contender Series, leading to this title shot in just over a year.
In the co-main event, bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida, defended her belt against Amanda Nunes. Nunes, a UFC Hall of Famer and former bantamweight and featherweight champion, returned to the Octagon for the first time in over three years. Harrison holds a record of 19-1, while Nunes has a career record of 23 wins, 5 losses, and 1 no decision. Betting odds listed Gane as a -230 favorite to win the heavyweight title, while Hokit was listed at +190. In the women’s bantamweight bout, Harrison was the -166 favorite against Nunes, who was at +140.
The five-bout main card began at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+, following preliminary fights that started at 5 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. ET. Other main card matchups included a middleweight bout between No. 5 ranked Caio Borralho and prospect Yousri Belgaroui, and a welterweight fight where No. 11 ranked Uroš Medić faced No. 15 ranked Kevin Holland. The event marked a return of the UFC Octagon to the historic Madison Square Garden arena for a significant championship night.
