Updated

Updated · ESPN · Nov 13

Josh Hokit Challenges Ciryl Gane for UFC 334 Heavyweight Title as 10-0 Rise Fuels Backlash

Updated

Updated · ESPN · Nov 13

Josh Hokit Challenges Ciryl Gane for UFC 334 Heavyweight Title as 10-0 Rise Fuels Backlash

Q: Can Stephen Thompson secure a fairytale ending to his legendary career against handpicked prospect Charles Radtke?

Yes, but only if Thompson can keep the fight where he wants it. The ingredients for a storybook sendoff are there. Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson is fighting at Madison Square Garden, a venue where he has history, and he enters as a slight betting favorite, around -142 to -148 in available lines. He also handpicked Charles Radtke, openly saying he wanted to give a younger fighter the kind of opportunity veterans once gave him. That makes this a manageable matchup on paper, not a ceremonial one. The concern is Thompson’s recent trajectory. He is 43, on a three-fight losing streak, and has not won since 2022. Coverage around the fight has repeatedly pointed to the same late-career issue: declining takedown defense and the broader erosion of the reflex-heavy style that made him elite. Against a younger, pressure-minded opponent, that matters. Radtke is not an easy farewell opponent. He is 5-2 in the UFC, has wrestling, power and an aggressive temperament, and he has framed this bout as a career opportunity rather than a tribute act. Thompson himself expects Radtke to test his takedown defense and bring a hard pace. Still, the matchup gives Thompson a real path. If he can manage range, stay off the fence and force a mostly striking fight, his cleaner technique and experience could carry him to a decision. That is why some preview coverage leans Thompson by points. A fairytale ending is plausible, but far from guaranteed. The romance is there; the margin for error is not.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Nov 13

Saturday’s UFC 334 main event at Madison Square Garden puts breakout contender Josh Hokit, 10-0, against heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane after a rapid 2026 ascent.
Hokit’s title shot has been shadowed by repeated inflammatory remarks, including vulgar comments about Michelle Obama and 9/11 jokes, which he said this week he does not regret.
Dana White said on Nov. 4 he dislikes “anything Josh Hokit says” and has deliberately given him difficult matchups, but also said Hokit earned the championship opportunity.
Coaches quoted in the preview largely favor Gane, citing his size, movement and technical edge, while warning Hokit must turn the fight chaotic and wrestle effectively to have a chance.
A Hokit win could test whether UFC success increasingly rewards villain-driven promotion, potentially encouraging other fighters to copy the blueprint regardless of Saturday’s result.