Chael Sonnen finally sees Ciryl Ganes level of greatness before UFC 334

Chael Sonnen admits the UFC 334 main event between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit is difficult to break down, but one thing he won't do is underestimate the heavyweight champion.

Sonnen has been historically standoffish about what Gane (14-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) has achieved throughout his career. A combination of big fight losses and controversies around fouls have diminished the accomplishments of the Frenchman in the eyes of many, and Sonnen has stood among them.

That's quickly becoming a thing of the past, though. Sonnen is now prepared to give the now-undisputed champion Gane his flowers ahead of his first title defense vs. Hokit (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York (Paramount+).

"It's complicated," Sonnen told MMA Junkie. "Ciryl Gane is much better than I knew that he was. I did not understand the level of greatness we were looking at. But now that he's got two interim titles and an undisputed title, I'm starting to get it."

Gane's path to undisputed champion status was far from smooth. He lost his first chance against Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 in January 2022, then crumbled in his second opportunity against Jon Jones at UFC 285 in March 2023. He got over the hump in an untraditional manner after his October 2025 fight vs. then-champ Tom Aspinall ended in a no contest after eye pokes by Gane stopped the fight.

Aspinall has still not fully recovered nearly one year later, and in September, he opted to vacate the belt. That upgraded Gane, who won the interim title with a TKO of Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250, to undisputed champion.

Regardless, Sonnen thinks Gane's resume is worth of praise. However, adding Hokit to it will be no easy feat in the eyes of the longtime analyst.

Hokit, 28, will be just over one year removed from his UFC debut when he challenges Gane, 36, at UFC 334. His assent has been rapid, but Gane is of a different caliber than what he's encounter so far.

Sonnen said Hokit needs to present his biggest strength when they meet in the octagon, otherwise it could be another triumphant night for Gane.

"When Josh fought Derrick Lewis there was a big question of: If he needs a takedown, can he get it? Cause with Curtis Blaydes he didn't really try. So the question becomes, if he had tried, could he have got it? I think he answered that," Sonnen said. "Can Josh Hokit get a takedown if he needs it? Yes. I believe so. But the threat of that takedown is paramount to everything else, though. I think Josh right away needs to make Ciryl worry about the wrestling.

"Ciryl is very good and Ciryl is very experienced. One thing he is not, is a wrestler. I do think that's a massive weapon. But Hokit's no different than Gable (Steveson). The weapon only counts if you can make your opponent believe that you're going to use it."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Chael Sonnen finally sees Ciryl Gane's 'level of greatness' before UFC 334