UFC 334 Countdown: Gane vs. Hokit & Harrison vs. Nunes | Full Episode
Watch the full Polymarket UFC 334 Countdown episode as the UFC builds toward its November 14, 2026 return to Madison Square Garden in New York. Two championship fights headline UFC 334: heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane defending against undefeated contender Josh Hokit, and women's bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison facing returning former two-division champion Amanda Nunes.
The Countdown documentary opens with Gane and Hokit's contrasting paths to the heavyweight title fight before turning to Harrison and Nunes at the 27:54 mark. One matchup pits an established champion against an unbeaten newcomer who has stormed through the division. The other brings together two of women's MMA's most accomplished competitors in a fight delayed by injury.
Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit: Experience Against an Unbeaten Heavyweight
The Gane vs. Hokit heavyweight championship fight arrives after an unusual sequence of events at the top of the division.
Gane captured the interim heavyweight title by stopping Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, 2026, finishing the Brazilian by TKO at 1:27 of the second round. A unification bout with Tom Aspinall initially appeared to be the next step, but Aspinall's continuing eye problems changed those plans.
Their previous meeting at UFC 321 in October 2025 had ended in a first-round no-contest following an accidental eye poke. When Aspinall vacated the undisputed championship in September 2026, Gane was promoted to full champion. His first defense now comes against a challenger who has reached this position with remarkable speed.
Hokit entered the UFC through Dana White's Contender Series in August 2025. A former Fresno State wrestler who spent time on the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad, he has quickly established himself as one of the heavyweight division's most recognizable personalities.
The unbeaten American brings a 10-0 professional record into UFC 334. His breakthrough came at UFC 327 in April 2026, when he defeated veteran wrestler Curtis Blaydes by unanimous decision in a punishing three-round fight. Two months later, Hokit stopped Derrick Lewis by TKO at 4:09 of Round 2, securing another major victory on the same card where Gane defeated Pereira.
Those results explain how Hokit earned a championship opportunity after just four UFC appearances. He has shown he can finish opponents quickly, but the Blaydes fight also demonstrated his willingness to survive sustained exchanges and fight through adversity.
Gane presents a different challenge. The Frenchman's movement, distance management, and technical striking have defined much of his heavyweight career. Hokit, meanwhile, has built his momentum through pressure, aggression, and an unusually confrontational fighting style.
For more on the challenger before watching Countdown, see Josh Hokit's 2026 highlights, covering his rise through the heavyweight ranks, or Josh Hokit: The Real Side, a UFC Connected feature released ahead of his fight with Derrick Lewis.
Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes: The Long-Awaited Bantamweight Superfight
The second half of UFC 334 Countdown focuses on the Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes women's bantamweight title fight, a matchup that has been discussed for years but has yet to take place inside the Octagon.
Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist, built her professional MMA reputation in the PFL before signing with the UFC in 2024. She submitted Holly Holm in her promotional debut at UFC 300, defeated Ketlen Vieira by unanimous decision later that year, and captured the bantamweight championship at UFC 316 in June 2025.
That title victory came against Julianna Peña, whom Harrison submitted with a kimura at 4:55 of the second round. Afterward, Nunes entered the Octagon for a face-off with the new champion, setting the stage for her return from retirement.
Nunes had stepped away from competition following her dominant unanimous decision victory over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023. The former bantamweight and featherweight champion had already defeated many of the biggest names in women's MMA, including Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm, and Valentina Shevchenko.
Harrison, however, represents a challenge Nunes never faced during her original UFC championship reign. The two previously spent time training at American Top Team, adding another layer to the matchup beyond their respective championship accomplishments.
The fight was originally scheduled for UFC 324 in January 2026, but Harrison withdrew because of a neck injury requiring surgery. Its rescheduling for November means the reigning champion will make her first title defense against Nunes, who has not competed professionally in more than three years.
That extended absence introduces one of the central questions surrounding the fight. Nunes brings championship experience and proven finishing ability against elite opposition, while Harrison relies on her Olympic-level grappling, physical strength, and the control that helped her capture the UFC belt.
Harrison's development is documented in From Tatami to the Octagon: Kayla Harrison's Journey Toward UFC Gold. Her earlier MMA career can also be revisited through the PFL 9 2022 full main card, featuring Harrison and Dakota Ditcheva in London.
The American Top Team connection is another important part of the story. Harrison continues to train at the Florida facility, while Nunes departed the gym during her previous championship reign. For additional context, watch Inside American Top Team, which explores the training environment associated with numerous UFC and MMA champions.
UFC 334 Fight Card: Other Matchups to Watch
Although the Countdown episode concentrates on the two championship fights, UFC 334 also features several notable matchups across its main card and preliminaries.
Unbeaten Indonesian flyweight prospect Bilal Hasan meets Luis Gurule in a main-card contest. The Hasan vs. Gurule matchup offers Hasan another opportunity to continue his rapid rise after earning a UFC contract through Dana White's Contender Series.
The preliminary card includes an intriguing lightweight meeting between two aggressive finishers, Jim Miller and Terrance McKinney. Veteran Miller's experience contrasts with McKinney's tendency to pursue early finishes.
Also scheduled for the early preliminaries is Evan Elder vs. Samuel Sanches, another lightweight matchup on the New York card.
UFC 334 takes place Saturday, November 14, at Madison Square Garden, with the main card beginning at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+ in the United States. This full Countdown episode provides the pre-fight story behind its two title bouts before Gane, Hokit, Harrison, and Nunes meet inside the Octagon.