Ciryl Gane sweeps Josh Hokit on the scorecards to retain heavyweight title at UFC 334 at MSG

NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Hokit wore an American flag bandana and sunglasses as he extended his hand toward Ciryl Gane and briefly dropped his outrageous “Incredible Hok” persona.

“You're tougher than I thought,” Hokit said.

Gane was tough. And he's still the champ.

Gane successfully defended his heavyweight championship, sweeping the scorecards over the five-round fight to win a unanimous decision and beat Hokit in the main event as UFC 334 bled into early Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

Gane won 48-47 on all three scorecards as the pro-Hokit crowd howled in disbelief.

Gane (15-2) defeated Alex Pereira at the White House card in June and claimed the interim heavyweight title before he was promoted to undisputed champion in Tom Aspinall's absence November.

Gane and Hokit (10-1) engaged in a slugfest that left both fighters bloodied — Hokit above the left eye, Gane from the mouth — but neither one landed any sustained offense which forced this outcome to the judges.

Hokit smirked as the decision was announced.

“I will rejoice in my suffering, suffering builds endurance, endurance builds character, and character builds hope," Hokit said. “I will never lose hope. I will be champion one day.”

Hokit flipped off Gane once, ducked a right, and extended a middle finger for a second time to close the third round.

The New York crowd ate it all up.

Hokit remained as crude in the cage as he is uncouth outside the octagon in hyping his fights.

Yet it was the 36-year-old Gane, who had lost to Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones in previous attempts to win the heavyweight championship, who walked out still champion.

Kayla Harrison retained her 135-pound championship when she choked out Amanda Nunes in the fourth round and spoiled the comeback bid of the woman widely recognized as the greatest female fighter in the co-main event.

Harrison (20-1) had plenty to prove in not only her first title defense as Nunes ended her three-year retirement for this title match, but in her first fight since June 2025. Harrison had spinal fusion surgery in January for a neck injury that delayed this anticipated fight until Saturday night at the Garden.

Nunes (23-6) tried to wrestle with the two-time Olympic gold medal judo champion in Harrison and ended the first two rounds flat on her back. Harrison landed a series of short punches and elbows to the head that seemed to tire her out — she admitted the difficulty in cutting weight to 135 pounds — as much they did any damage to Nunes.

Harrison — who walked out to “Eye of the Tiger” while the fighter better known as the “Lioness” stretched and bounced on her tiptoes ahead of Bruce Buffer’s introductions —wasted no time in the fourth round. Harrison grabbed Nunes by her right leg and tripped her to the canvas. Harrison pounced on Nunes’ back and applied the rear naked choke hold. Nunes quickly tapped to astonishment of the packed MSG crowd.

“I think I'm still in shock,” Harrison said.

Nunes may be considered the best in the sport.

Harrison staked her claim as the best of right now.

Nunes walked out of the octagon on her own while a victorious, yet weakened, Harrison needed help back to the locker room.

Gold firmly around her waist.

“I’ve got a lot of decisions to make when I get home,” Harrison said. "Every time I make weight, I say never again, so we’ll see.”

A UFC Hall of Famer, Nunes held championships in two weight classes, lost only once in 12 previous UFC championship bouts and defeated the once-indomitable Ronda Rousey. She retired in 2023, citing burnout and a desire to spend more time with her wife as they raised their two young daughters.

She could head back into retirement, her legacy on the short list of the best to do it still secured.

President Donald Trump has attended UFC events at the Garden in the past but was not on hand Saturday night. Trump said last week he was offering UFC chief Dana White the job of White House press secretary, but he later said he was just kidding.

After bringing UFC to the White House lawn this summer, Trump brought White into the press briefing room on Monday. Trump briefly stood aside as White took questions.

White had his usual cageside seat and reveled in all that the global fight promotion has accomplished over the last 10 years of legal MMA fights in New York.

Conor McGregor won the lightweight championship in the main event of UFC's debut card at Madison Square Garden 10 years ago. Georges St-Pierre, Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones are among the winners of major championship fights at MSG and topping this annual card has become a career goal for most champions.

Some fighters just want to go out on top in New York.

Stephen Thompson had fans chanting his “Wonderboy” nickname in his retirement fight against Charles Radtke in a welterweight bout. The 43-year-old Thompson, who twice fought for the welterweight championship, won via stoppage with a spinning wheel kick to Radtke's head in the third round. UFC played a video tribute to Thompson.

“I told myself I wasn't going to cry,” Thompson said, with a catch in his voice. “We wouldn't have this sport if it wasn't for my fans.”

Thompson laid his gloves on the mat, the symbolic farewell for a combat fighter before retirement.

See AP’s full sports coverage here

Josh Hokit, right, as Ciryl Gane, of France, celebrates after a heavyweight title bout at the UFC 334 mixed martial arts event Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Ciryl Gane, of France, punches Josh Hokit, left, during a heavyweight title bout at the UFC 334 mixed martial arts event Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Kayla Harrison, above, grapples with Brazil's Amanda Nunes during a women's bantamweight title bout at the UFC 334 mixed martial arts event Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Stephen Thompson gestures as he leaves the octagon after a welterweight bout against Charles Radtke at the UFC 334 mixed martial arts event Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Stephen Thompson celebrates after a welterweight bout against Charles Radtke at the UFC 334 mixed martial arts event Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Kayla Harrison, left, reacts after a women's bantamweight title bout against Brazil's Amanda Nunes, right, at the UFC 334 mixed martial arts event Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Brazil's Amanda Nunes, left, punches Kayla Harrison during a women's bantamweight title bout at the UFC 334 mixed martial arts event Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New Zealand (AP) — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli again were dismissed cheaply as New Zealand bowled out India for 209 after winning the toss Sunday in the fifth one-day cricket international at Bay Oval.

The match was played on the same pitch on which New Zealand dismissed India for 89 in the fourth match of the series two days ago. Rohit and Virat both were dismissed in the first over of the India innings in that match, leading to India’s defeat by 244 runs.

Sharma was out for 7 and Kohli for 5 on Sunday as India struggled on a used pitch on which the ball held up at times and turned. Ishan Kishan and Axar Patel 46 both made 46 to give some substance to the India innings.

India leads the five-match series 2-1 and New Zealand needs to win Sunday to avoid its first ODI series loss at home in seven years.

Rohit was out to a ball from the young pacer Matt Fisher which held up and which he pushed directly to Dean Foxcroft at short midwicket.

Virat was brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Tim Seifert, playing extravagantly at a ball from Fisher which took an outside edge and flew wide of Seifert who claimed the catch diving full-length.

Rutaraj Gaekwad (18) was also caught by Seifert off an inside edge to a ball from Jacob Duffy.

Axar was reprieved early in his innings, dropped by Foxcroft off Duffy, and went on to make his 46 from 55 balls with five fours and a six.

In sight of a half century, he played too hard at a ball from Mark Bracewell which stopped and was chipped comfortably to Will Young at mid-on.

Naman Dhir looked dangerous briefly before being caught by Nick Kelly off Mitch Santner for 22. Santner had only bowled a handful of overs across the T20 and ODI series but bowled all 10 Sunday and took 3-47.

Kishan holed out to deep third man off Duffy after hitting three fours and two sixes. Duffy took 3-60.

Arshdeep Singh provided some fireworks in a partnership of 26 for the last wicket with Mohammad Siraj. Both made 14 and hit three sixes between them.

Santner won the toss for only the second time in 10 matches across the T20 and ODI series.

See AP’s full cricket coverage here

New Zealand celebrates the wicket of India's Ruturaj Gaikwad during a one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, in Tauranga, New Zealand. (Marty Melville/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Jacob Duffy celebrates the wicket of India's Ruturaj Gaikwad during a one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, in Tauranga, New Zealand. (Marty Melville/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Jacob Duffy bowls during a one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, in Tauranga, New Zealand. (Marty Melville/Photosport via AP)

India's Rohit Sharma plays a shot during a one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, in Tauranga, New Zealand. (Marty Melville/Photosport via AP)

India's Arshdeep Singh is bowled during a one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, in Tauranga, New Zealand. (Marty Melville/Photosport via AP)

India's Shreyas Iyer takes a catch to dismiss New Zealands' Will Young during the one day cricket international between New Zealand and India in Auckland, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Mitchell Santner, left, and Jacob Duffy walk on the field during Game 2 of the one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Chris Symes/Photosport via AP)