Ciryl Gane Breaks Silence on Dirty Fighter Accusations Ahead of UFC 334
Ciryl Gane addresses eye-poke criticism and accusations of dirty fighting ahead of his UFC 334 title defense against Josh Hokit.
Ciryl Gane believes he knows why some of his UFC rivals continue accusing him of dirty fighting, and the heavyweight champion isn’t interested in changing their minds.
Ahead of his UFC 334 title defense against Josh Hokit this Saturday, November 14, Gane addressed the criticism surrounding his controversial fights with Tom Aspinall and Alex Pereira.
Speaking with RMC Sport Combat, Gane suggested that frustration and difficulty accepting defeat could explain why some opponents have questioned his conduct inside the Octagon.
Ciryl Gane Responds to Dirty Fighter Accusations
According to MMA Fighting, Gane believes the accusations may come from opponents struggling to accept his success.
“I think it’s a kind of frustration, or in any case, a struggle with acceptance that’s hard to deal with,” Gane said.
The French heavyweight also dismissed the suggestion that illegal techniques are part of his training, specifically rejecting the idea that he practices eye-gouging.
“I’m not here to try and convince anyone. I train hard. I control what I can control,” Gane added.
Gane maintained that he respects his opponents and considers the continued criticism disappointing.
Eye-Poke Controversy Continues to Follow Gane
The accusations gained significant attention following Gane’s fight against Aspinall at UFC 321, which ended in a no-contest after accidental eye pokes left Aspinall unable to continue.
Gane later defeated Pereira to capture the interim heavyweight championship, although Pereira subsequently accused him of landing illegal strikes to the back of the head.
With Aspinall continuing to deal with eye problems, Gane was eventually promoted to undisputed heavyweight champion.
While the eye pokes against Aspinall resulted in an official no-contest, Pereira’s complaints remain allegations and do not establish that Gane intentionally committed fouls.
Gane Unbothered by Josh Hokit’s Trash Talk Before UFC 334
Gane’s next opponent, Hokit, has also made headlines with his outspoken personality and trash talk ahead of their heavyweight championship fight.
However, Gane doesn’t believe those tactics will affect him.
“He does it to destabilize certain fighters who are susceptible to being destabilized. I don’t think I am,” Gane said.
The champion explained that working with a mental coach has helped him handle attempts to get inside his head. He even admitted that some of Hokit’s antics make him laugh.
Gane will make his first defense of the undisputed heavyweight championship at UFC 334, where another victory could help shift attention away from the controversies surrounding his recent fights.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.