Hokit trains blindfolded to mock Gane's eye-poke history ahead of UFC 334 title fight

Josh Hokit is taking a pointed psychological shot at Ciryl Gane before their undisputed UFC heavyweight championship bout at UFC 334, posting a video of himself sparring blindfolded to mock the Frenchman’s well-documented history of eye pokes. The undefeated American challenger faces Gane on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York.

“I think we are ready,” Hokit wrote in the caption accompanying the clip on social media.

The jab lands with context. Gane’s most notorious foul came at UFC 321 in October 2025, when an eye poke on then-champion Tom Aspinall ended their title fight in the first round. The bout was ruled a no-contest, and Aspinall has yet to return to competition while still recovering from the resulting eye injuries.

Gane’s foul history stretches further than that single incident. Alexander Volkov and Jairzinho Rozenstruik are among the fighters who have complained of eye pokes after sharing the octagon with him, and allegations of other illegal strikes have followed the heavyweight contender throughout his career.

Most recently, Gane claimed an interim heavyweight title — subsequently elevated to undisputed status in Aspinall’s absence — with a knockout of Alex Pereira at UFC White House. Pereira has since publicly criticised both Gane and veteran referee Herb Dean, alleging illegal shots to the back of the head during the finishing sequence.

Hokit enters the fight undefeated, and his blindfolded training video suggests his camp is treating Gane’s foul tendencies not merely as a psychological talking point but as a genuine tactical consideration. Whether the stunt rattles Gane or simply fires him up remains to be seen when the two heavyweights meet on Saturday night.