UFC 334 is bringing two title fights to Madison Square Garden on November 14, but Alex Pereira isn’t convinced the promotion got its main event right. The card will be headlined by Ciryl Gane defending his heavyweight title against Josh Hokit, while Kayla Harrison will put her bantamweight championship on the line against Amanda Nunes in the co-main event.
Harrison is returning from neck surgery, while Nunes is coming out of retirement for one of the biggest fights in women’s MMA. With two accomplished champions sharing the Octagon, Pereira believes their showdown deserves more attention than the heavyweight title fight.
Before the official announcement, many fans expected Pereira to receive an immediate shot at the heavyweight championship after Tom Aspinall vacated the belt. The controversy surrounding the illegal shots to the back of Aspinall’s head at UFC Freedom 250 only added to the speculation. Instead, Pereira will face Sergei Pavlovich in a five-round heavyweight bout at UFC 335.
The Brazilian has already taken aim at Gane over his path to the title. Now, he has found another reason to question the UFC’s matchmaking after taking a closer look at UFC 334’s official poster.
Alex Pereira Takes a Dig at UFC 334 Main Event Featuring Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit
Earlier today, the UFC unveiled the official poster for UFC 334. Pereira shared it on his Instagram story and took a cheeky shot at the heavyweight title fight, arguing that the women’s championship clash deserves the spotlight.
He added the caption, “Why the women’s fight is not the main event? Okay, let me help promote this cause no one is payin attention to it…”
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Pereira’s point was simple: Harrison vs. Nunes is a massive matchup featuring two of the most accomplished fighters in women’s MMA. And when you look at their resumes, it’s easy to understand why he wants the fight to get more attention.
Harrison may be the reigning UFC bantamweight champion, but her accomplishments go far beyond the Octagon. She made history by winning Olympic gold in judo at both the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming the first American judoka to win two Olympic gold medals.
She later established herself as one of the biggest stars in women’s MMA outside the UFC, winning two PFL tournaments at 155 pounds before making the jump to the world’s leading MMA promotion.
Nunes, meanwhile, needs little introduction. Widely regarded as the greatest female fighter in MMA history, the former two-division UFC champion built a resume few fighters can match.
Her last appearance came at UFC 289, where she successfully defended her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana before announcing her retirement while holding both the bantamweight and featherweight championships.
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During her legendary run, Nunes defeated some of the biggest names in the sport, including Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. She also knocked out Cris Cyborg at UFC 232 to become a two-division champion.
Nunes won 14 of her final 15 fights before retiring in 2023. Her only loss during that stretch came against Julianna Pena, whom she defeated in their immediate rematch at UFC 277 to reclaim the bantamweight title.
The stakes are even higher because reports suggest both Harrison and Nunes could retire after the fight, regardless of the result. If that happens, UFC 334 could mark the final appearance of two legendary careers, making the matchup even more significant.
Pereira might have his own reasons for questioning the card, especially after missing out on an immediate heavyweight title shot. However, his argument isn’t without merit. Gane’s title run has been controversial, with his clash against Aspinall at UFC 321 ending in a no-contest after repeated eye pokes left the British fighter unable to continue.
Aspinall subsequently vacated the title, paving the way for Gane to fight for the vacant championship. Hokit getting the opportunity to challenge for heavyweight gold has also raised eyebrows. Despite remaining undefeated, he has yet to beat a top-five heavyweight contender, and his title shot follows a victory over 41-year-old Derrick Lewis.
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That doesn’t mean Gane vs. Hokit lacks intrigue, but the matchup has its critics. In contrast, Harrison vs. Nunes brings together an Olympic champion and a former two-division UFC champion, with the possibility of both women walking away from the sport afterward.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
