Dana White on UFC 334: Hokit respect, Gane vs Pereira idea, and MSG/Paris plans

The Story

UFC CEO Dana White addressed the media following UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden in New York on Nov. 14, 2026, where Cyril Gane successfully defended the UFC heavyweight title and Kayla Harrison defended the UFC women’s bantamweight title.

White said he was impressed by the main event and personally scored the fight 4-1 in favour of Gane, while also signalling respect for his opponent. “I give him nothing but respect for the fight that he fought tonight,” White said of Josh Hokit.

Asked about what happens next for Hokit, White did not immediately say whether the heavyweight title rematch would be earned, despite Hokit’s tweet after the loss to Gane.

White instead pointed to a potential matchup involving Gane and Alex Pereira, saying it would be “fun” if Pereira beats Sergei Pavlovich in the co-main event at UFC 335 in Las Vegas next month.

On future UFC event locations, White said there are no plans for the promotion to hold numbered events in New York City anywhere other than Madison Square Garden. He shut down recent rumours about a return to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, saying the UFC’s past disruption from COVID-related postponements shaped its approach.

White cited the UFC’s 2020 event UFC 249, which was postponed and later moved to May in Jacksonville, Florida, and recalled telling arena officials, “Don’t do this to me,” adding, “Do not cancel Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson.” White said, for now, Madison Square Garden will remain a primary NYC venue for the promotion’s annual November event.

White also said the UFC is open to hosting a numbered event in Paris, with Gane as the headliner. He said his status as champion “doesn’t hurt,” and addressed the absence of Tom Aspinall, saying it is now approaching 13 months and comes down to when Aspinall can compete. “When he’s ready, he’ll call us,” White said.