Johnny Walker Takes Brutal Dig At Ciryl Gane After UFC 334 Heavyweight Title Defense Against Josh Hokit

Johnny Walker was far from impressed with Ciryl Gane's performance at UFC 334. The Brazilian heavyweight took to social media after Gane defended his undisputed heavyweight championship against Josh Hokit at Madison Square Garden on November 14. Walker questioned the Frenchman's approach, pointing out that he spent much of the five-round contest moving backwards. Gane secured a unanimous decision victory, but his performance attracted criticism. Walker also has his own ambitions in the heavyweight division, having scored two consecutive knockout victories since moving up from light heavyweight and is now targeting a potential title opportunity in early 2027.

Johnny Walker Questions Ciryl Gane's Approach After UFC 334 Victory

Johnny Walker did not hold back while reacting to Ciryl Gane's first defense of the undisputed heavyweight championship.

Shortly after UFC 334 concluded, Walker shared his thoughts on X, questioning how a champion could defend his title while constantly moving backwards.

“How does a champ defend his belt walking backwards 5 rounds? #UFC334 s***”

Gane successfully retained his championship in the main event at Madison Square Garden but the Frenchman faced an aggressive opponent in Josh Hokit, who attempted to put pressure on him throughout the contest.

Hokit, a 29-year-old former San Francisco 49ers practice squad player, entered the fight with an unbeaten 10-0 record. His previous victories included impressive wins over Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis.

The American attempted 12 takedowns during the five-round fight, successfully completing two. Gane, meanwhile, did not attempt a single takedown and preferred to keep the contest standing.

The striking numbers also highlighted the difference between their approaches. Gane landed 87 significant strikes compared to Hokit's 54. However, Hokit managed 1:05 of control time, while the champion recorded just six seconds.

Gane received the undisputed championship after Tom Aspinall vacated the belt because of an eye injury. The Frenchman had previously won the interim title by stopping Alex Pereira in the second round in June.

Johnny Walker Eyes Heavyweight Title Shot After Back-to-Back Knockouts

Walker has a personal reason to pay attention to the heavyweight title picture. During fight week, he offered himself as a potential last-minute backup for both Gane and Hokit.

Walker described a Hokit loss as “a wonderful scenario for me,” believing it could bring the unbeaten wrestler closer to a potential fight against him.

The 34-year-old has enjoyed a fresh start since leaving the light heavyweight division. He struggled with inconsistent performances at 205 pounds, with the weight cut reportedly affecting his performances.

His move to heavyweight has produced impressive results. After losing to Dominick Reyes in April, Walker bounced back with two consecutive victories.

At UFC 332 on October 3 in Salt Lake City, he knocked out Mick Parkin in just 3:35. Walker connected with a short elbow in the clinch before landing a fight-ending knee. The performance also earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

He then accepted another challenge on just eight days' notice, facing Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC Vegas 124. Walker headlined the event and stopped his opponent in the third round.