Stipe Miocic Predicts Ciryl Gane to Defeat Josh Hokit for Heavyweight Title

Heavyweight legend Stipe Miocic has made a prediction about his former title, which is set to be contested by Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit in an upcoming bout. The pair will vie for the heavyweight championship that Miocic once held with distinction.

Miocic's tenure as champion was marked by three successful title defenses between 2016 and 2018, before he relinquished the belt. However, he regained it in 2019 and went on to defend it until 2021, when he lost to Francis Ngannou. In his final fight, Miocic suffered a TKO loss against Jon Jones in 2024.

The heavyweight division has experienced significant turmoil since Miocic's retirement. The champion at the time, Jon Jones, vacated the title after being offered $30 million to face interim champion Tom Aspinall, who was subsequently elevated to undisputed champion. However, Aspinall's reign was short-lived, as his first defense ended in a no-contest against Ciryl Gane due to repeated eye pokes.

Gane's victory over Aspinall led to the British fighter vacating the title this September, 11 months after their initial encounter. Aspinall had been dealing with ongoing complications from the eye injury he sustained during the fight.

The upcoming UFC 334 event has generated significant interest among fans, with the main attraction being Ciryl Gane's first defense of his undisputed heavyweight title against Tai Tuivasa's opponent, Francis Ngannou's replacement, Tai Tuivasa's original opponent was supposed to be but is now replaced by Tai Tuivasa's new opponent.

The fight will take place on November 14th at Madison Square Garden, a venue where Stipe Miocic had previously retired. In an interview with the media, Miocic shared his thoughts on the upcoming bout, stating that he believes Gane has the edge over Hokit due to his extensive experience and skills.

Miocic pointed out that while Hokit is a skilled wrestler and possesses significant punching power, Gane's ability to maintain distance and minimize mistakes will give him an advantage in the fight. He also acknowledged Hokit's potential danger when taken down, but emphasized Gane's strong defensive wrestling skills as a major factor in his favor.

Miocic's prediction that Gane will emerge victorious is based on his assessment of their respective skill sets and experience levels. With Gane being more seasoned and having fought tougher opponents in the past, Miocic believes he has the upper hand in this matchup.

Miocic believes that Hokit's inexperience in the UFC could be an advantage for Gane, who has faced tougher opponents in the past and is more seasoned.

Gane's wrestling background gives him a unique edge in the heavyweight division, allowing him to adapt quickly if needed.

However, Miocic notes that Hokit hits hard and comes forward aggressively, which could pose a challenge for Gane if he allows himself to get caught with a clean shot.

Miocic also comments on Hokit's tendency to drop his hands, leaving him vulnerable to counterattacks, but praises the fighter's overall development.

Miocic sees potential in a future rematch between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane, suggesting that the next fight could be very different from their previous encounter.

He believes that Aspinall, known for his gameplans, will likely adjust his strategy if he faces Gane again, making it difficult to predict the outcome of such a matchup.

Miocic notes that in their last fight, Gane seemed to tailor his approach to suit Aspinall's style, but this time around, Aspinall may have a new plan in store for him.

Miocic acknowledges that fighters often struggle to stick to their original strategy when faced with adversity in the octagon. When a fighter gets caught up in the heat of battle and starts taking risks, they may abandon their initial plan.

This can be seen as a potential advantage for Gane if he manages to stay focused on his game plan, choosing his shots carefully and avoiding unnecessary risks. Miocic believes Hokit is a formidable opponent but doesn't think he's quite ready to take down Aspinall yet.