{
  "id": 8586177,
  "title": "Ciryl Gane crowned UFC heavyweight champion and defends title vs controversial Josh Hokit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ciryl-gane-crowned-ufc-heavyweight-champion-and-defends-title-vs",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T02:11:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dana-white-makes-major-ruling-203449366.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ciryl Gane has been promoted to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion and will defend his title against controversial fighter Josh Hokit in November. Gane, who made his first defence of the belt in the main event of UFC 334, is set to face Hokit, whose WWE-style character has sparked controversy. This news comes after UFC president Dana White \"misspoke\" about Gane not being upgraded to undisputed champion. Gane had previously lost the undisputed title to Tom Aspinall in October due to numerous eye pokes in round one, which led to Aspinall undergoing multiple surgeries and subsequently vacating the belt. With Aspinall's decision, Gane has now become the UFC's first-ever undisputed champion, having held the interim title twice. The co-main event at Madison Square Garden will see Kayla Harrison challenge Amanda Nunes for the women's bantamweight belt, with Nunes making her return to MMA. Gane's interim-title victory in June was also controversial, with many fans claiming he landed illegal blows to Pereira's head.",
  "summary": "Gane injured undisputed champion Tom Aspinall last October before winning the interim belt in June. Aspinall, still sidelined, has now given up the official title – to the benefit of Gane",
  "key_points": [
    "Ciryl Gane crowned undisputed UFC heavyweight champion",
    "Josh Hokit, controversial fighter, set to defend title in November",
    "Gane becomes UFC's first-ever undisputed champion"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Ciryl Gane's promotion to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion sets up a title defence against Josh Hokit, a move that could legitimize Gane's claim to the belt or further tarnish his reputation.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Joshua Van defends title with brilliant 5 round performance over Alexandre Pantoja in UFC 311 main event",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/joshua-van-defends-title-with-brilliant-5-round-performance-over",
        "published": "2026-09-20T04:14:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}