Preview and picks for Ciryl Gane-Josh Hokit and Kayla Harrison-Amanda Nunes

One year ago, Josh Hokit was virtually unknown in the fight world. On Saturday, he will headline a UFC event at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York. One of the biggest questions surrounding him is how much of his soul he's sacrificed to get here. This weekend could provide an answer to an even bigger question. Hokit (10-0) will challenge heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane (14-2) at UFC 334 (Paramount+, 9 p.m. ET). Hokit, 28, has been one of the sport's biggest breakouts in 2026, thanks in no small part to the controversy he's stirred on the mic. He stood on the South Lawn of the White House in June and made vulgar remarks about former first lady Michelle Obama. He made distasteful 9/11 jokes on social media the same day of the 25th anniversary of the attacks on the very city where he will compete this weekend. A former collegiate football player at Fresno State University, Hokit has broken character on numerous occasions and said he doesn't even enjoy the attention. But he's using hate and controversy to stand out, and he won't apologize for it. He acknowledged as much again this week, during media appearances in New York. "I'll never look back and regret it," Hokit said. "I'm here to be remembered. If I have to crack a few eggs to make an omelette, f--- it. If I have to burn the bridge to light the way, f--- it." Some of Hokit's appalling comments have prompted UFC CEO Dana White to say during an episode of "The Jim Rome Show" on Nov. 4 that he's given Hokit difficult matchups on his way up and that he doesn't like "anything Josh Hokit says." Hokit has taken advantage of the high-profile opportunities he has received this year from White, who's said Hokit earned his title shot on Saturday. Whether Hokit would tone down his act if he captures a UFC championship -- or double down on it -- remains to be seen. Either way, it does create an intriguing industry-wide storyline to watch on Saturday. Those who have been offended by Hokit's tactics likely want to see him lose. Such is the effect of him playing a villain. But there's another reason critics should fear a Hokit victory: It could inspire other fighters to follow his blueprint for success. That could happen, actually, regardless of Saturday's outcome. More storylines to watch After 8 years, Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes finally settle their differences From the moment Harrison walked into the American Top Team gym in South Florida in 2018 to begin her MMA career, she and Nunes were on a path to one of the greatest rivalries in women's MMA -- even if it took years for them to call it one. The history behind the matchup is as compelling as their individual achievements. Harrison says she wanted to build something in the gym alongside Nunes, while Nunes -- already UFC champion when Harrison arrived -- says she recognized from the start that Harrison wanted to take her place in the sport. Those conflicting perceptions created the tension that led to Saturday's bout, with Nunes coming out of a 3½-year retirement to challenge for Harrison's bantamweight belt. The fight was originally scheduled for January 2026, but Harrison was forced to withdraw just weeks before the bout to undergo two-level spinal fusion surgery for a neck injury she had been dealing with for years. Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson retirement Thompson was never the only "nice guy" in MMA, but he might have perfected it more than anyone else. Thompson has announced that Saturday's bout against Charles Radtke will be the end of his 14-year UFC career. It's fitting that his last act will take place in Madison Square Garden, the same building in which his career could have taken a very different path. Thompson fought Tyron Woodley to a majority draw in November 2016 at UFC 205, the promotion's first event in New York City. He came within one round on one judge's scorecard of becoming UFC champion. Thompson lost an immediate rematch to Woodley in 2017, and never returned to title contention after a 2019 loss to Anthony Pettis. Nevertheless, Thompson left his mark in the sport. He's regarded as one of the most honorable fighters of the past decade. A karate-based welterweight, Thompson continued teaching children's martial arts classes even as an active, ranked fighter in the UFC. His iconic walkouts to Tenacious D's "Wonderboy" and notable wins over Johny Hendricks, Rory MacDonald, Jorge Masvidal and Robert Whittaker will not soon be forgotten. "I want to leave this sport knowing that, hey, you can still be at the top of the game and be the good guy," Thompson said. "That's a breath of fresh air. You don't have to be the guy to talk trash all the time." Coaches' questions and predictions for the title fights Editor's note: Responses have been edited for brevity and clarity. Ciryl Gane (c) vs. Josh Hokit How will Hokit handle Gane's size? I was in Francis Ngannou's corner against Gane, and the first thing I said was, "This is a big f---ing guy who can move." Hokit is smaller, and could probably be a light heavyweight. He needs to wrestle in this fight, and what will grappling a big guy like that do to his gas tank? Gane's stance switches on the feet are big, because they change the wrestling picture. He's always changing his lead leg, which could force Josh to constantly recalculate where his attacks are. Gane will need to mix in anti-wrestling strikes, meaning target some strikes to the chest and body to negate Josh's level changes. Hokit has to cut off the cage and, once he does get Gane down, prioritize controlling his legs to slow the process of him getting back up. I think the size is a real factor, so I'm picking Gane. -- Eric Nicksick, Xtreme Couture Can Hokit's chaos disrupt the technical superiority of Gane? This is Hokit's biggest step up, a true test of the elite -- whereas, I do not believe this is the best guy Gane has fought. The question is whether Hokit's off-the-wall pressure, all the s--- he does in there to make it chaotic, can hold up against a technical fighter like Gane. You have to let Hokit do the things that have gotten him to this point. You don't want him to be sloppy, but I wouldn't try to tighten things up too much. I feel like Gane is going to be too much, though, and expose what Hokit is missing technically. Hokit has to make the fight ugly. I feel Gane is too crisp, too clean, and ends up sparking him. Gane by TKO. -- John Wood, Syndicate MMA Kayla Harrison (c) vs. Amanda Nunes What do the fighters know that we don't, and how will they use it? Who got the better of whom in the gym? What do they know intimately about each other that we don't, and how will they use that information? For Amanda, she needs to intercept Kayla's pressure with straight punches. Looping punches allow Kayla to sit down and get into the hips, so those punches scare me. Amanda has to defend the second and third takedown attempts and, if and when she does get taken down, she has to make Kayla work. The issue there is that Amanda has been notorious for her own failed cardio, but she has to make Kayla work for any grappling success. And for Kayla, she can't fight a la carte, which she has done in the past. She can't say, "Now I'm striking; OK, now I'm wrestling." She has to throw strikes to close distance and then blend her wrestling. Prioritize positions over going for submissions and make this a physical fight. I'm going to pick Amanda. I think she wins a decision. -- Eric Nicksick, Xtreme Couture How will Nunes look after 3½ years away from the Octagon? Is Nunes still Nunes? Usually in MMA, time off doesn't result in a better, sharper fighter. But Amanda was so dominant and such a beast. I know Amanda personally and I know she wouldn't be coming back if she didn't know she's still got it. I think she will have a good night at the office. It's the power. She has that rare power that can change the outcome of a fight if she hits you just one time. And she's dealt with the pressure that Kayla is going to bring. I know Julianna Peña got Amanda off her game when she beat her in 2021, but I think Amanda went into that fight injured and not caring as much. As long as that's not the case and she comes in ready, just needs to make contact once. Nunes by TKO. -- John Wood, Syndicate MMA