Ciryl Gane Makes Bizarre Assessment of UFC Heavyweight Division in 2026
It’s safe to say the UFC’s attempts to restore order to the heavyweight division have not gone according to plan. The Jon Jones saga, which saw him reign as undisputed champion without ever facing Tom Aspinall to unify the belts, dragged on for more than 800 days.
And just when it seemed like a new era was about to begin at UFC 321 in October 2025, Ciryl Gane poked Aspinall in the eye, leaving him with a rare injury that has kept him out of action. The Brit eventually vacated the heavyweight title and is now out of the championship picture. His right eye remains a major concern, as even two surgeries have failed to fully fix the problem.
Away from the title picture, the division has also taken a hit in terms of star power, with fewer established names among the top 10. However, Gane, who was promoted to undisputed champion after Aspinall vacated the belt, doesn’t share that assessment. The Frenchman is set to defend his title against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 and believes the heavyweight division is actually thriving in 2026.
Ciryl Gane Believes Current UFC Heavyweight Roster Surpasses Cain Velasquez and Stipe Miocic Era
Speaking in an interview with the UFC, Gane said, “The heavyweight division looks a little bit crazy. Like, with Josh Hokit, he jumped for the title shot. When you see a guy like [Alexander] Volkov, he deserves it. This is a little bit complicated for the UFC to manage this because it’s yes, it’s a championship, but it’s also promotion, so I can understand both sides.”
The comments come amid backlash over Hokit’s title shot, with many questioning why he leapfrogged Alexander Volkov. The Russian has won seven of his last eight fights and has a much stronger case based on his recent record. Hokit, meanwhile, has yet to beat anyone in the heavyweight top five and is coming off a win over a 41-year-old Derrick Lewis.
Despite acknowledging that the division’s matchmaking can be complicated, Gane still believes the heavyweight roster is in a great place. In fact, he thinks the 265-pound division is enjoying the best period in its history, despite plenty of fans feeling otherwise.
He added, “But yeah, very interesting, actually the top 10 is incredible. I heard a lot of people talking about the division of heavyweight [being] a little bit poor. I think the heavyweight division, actually may be the best moment of the heavyweight division’s history.”
🔝 Le champion Ciryl Gane revient sur la situation des poids lourds avant sa première défense de titre
Ne manquez pas son combat contre Josh Hokit le 14 novembre à l’#UFC334 https://t.co/cSyjhmXXHM
— UFC France (@UFCFRA) November 6, 2026
That’s a pretty bold claim, especially considering the legends who have ruled the division over the years. Names like Stipe Miocic, Daniel Cormier, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Fabricio Werdum helped define different eras of heavyweight MMA, with several Hall of Famers also competing for the crown.
Those days feel long gone, and many fans believe the current roster lacks the skill and star power of previous generations. The division has also developed a reputation for producing slow, uneventful three-round fights that don’t always make for exciting viewing.
Gane clearly sees things differently. But with the heavyweight title picture still dealing with the fallout of the Aspinall saga and the Volkov-Hokit debate, fans may need some convincing. What do you make of the champion’s take?