UFC champion Gane looks to shed foul-play stigma at UFC 334

UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane (36, France) heads into his first title defense carrying a burden that rivals the fight itself: restoring his reputation as a clean competitor after foul-play controversies in each of his past two bouts.

CBS Sports, in a preview of UFC 334 published Monday (local time), said Gane needs to shed the image of a fighter prone to illegal strikes. Gane defends the heavyweight title against undefeated challenger Josh Hockett of the United States in the main event of UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday.

The controversy surrounding Gane began in earnest at last year's title fight against Tom Aspinall of England. Gane, the challenger at the time, poked both of Aspinall's eyes with his fingers late in the first round. Aspinall suffered vision problems in his right eye and could not continue, and the bout was ruled a no-contest at 4 minutes 35 seconds of the first round.

Gane maintained the foul was unintentional, but Aspinall continued to struggle with the eye injury afterward. Aspinall ultimately relinquished the heavyweight title after undergoing multiple eye surgeries, reshaping the division's title picture.

Another controversy erupted at UFC Freedom 250, held at the White House in June. Gane stopped Alex Pereira of Brazil by KO in the second round to claim the interim heavyweight title, but some of the follow-up punches he landed on the downed Pereira were alleged to have struck the back of the head — a prohibited target.

Pereira criticized referee Herb Dean after the fight for failing to stop the illegal blows. Footage released recently also showed Pereira's coach Plinio Cruz protesting to the referee mid-fight, pointing out the rabbit punches.

CBS Sports was careful to note that Gane does not cultivate a villain persona and is widely regarded as a humble sportsman. Even so, the outlet said past opponents — including Junior dos Santos, Tai Tuivasa, Jon Jones, Sergei Pavlovich and Alexander Volkov — have also raised concerns about what they described as deliberate fouls by Gane.

The outlet said the pattern of similar allegations makes it difficult to dismiss the incidents as mere bad luck or coincidence. Even if intent has never been proven, it said, the repeated lapses in care during competition form a troubling pattern.

Gane's path to the championship has itself been clouded by controversy. He became interim champion by defeating Pereira, then was elevated to undisputed champion when Aspinall vacated the belt. CBS Sports said the heavyweight division — long unsettled by Francis Ngannou's departure from the UFC and the collapse of planned title fights involving Jones and Aspinall — now needs a stable champion.

His opponent, Hockett, is an unbeaten prospect with a 10-0 professional MMA record. A former college wrestler and football player, Hockett earned a title shot just over a year after his debut last year. He has also drawn attention recently for releasing a diss track targeting heavyweight fighters, signaling a brash, outspoken style.

Hockett has made clear he is aware of Gane's foul-play history. He released a training video showing himself sparring after being sprayed with pepper spray — an explicit provocation aimed at Gane's record of eye pokes.

For Gane, this fight carries weight beyond a routine first title defense. He must not only defeat an unbeaten prospect but do so cleanly — winning in a way that matches the reputation a heavyweight champion is expected to uphold.