Frank Knows: UFC 334 Preview & Predictions

Ultimate Fighting Championship 334 comes from New York, with a competitive card broadcast on TV and live-streaming apps on Saturday evening.

Excitement is guaranteed as the UFC hosts its 13th show in New York City, with the world-famous Madison Square Garden providing the backdrop.

Ciryl Gane defends his UFC heavyweight title against challenger Josh Hokit, with the leading online bookmakers offering pre-fight betting markets and odds.

Keep reading as former professional boxer turned sports betting writer Frankie Monkhouse offers his UFC 334 preview and predictions.

Gane vs Hokit

Ciryl Gane is a 36-year-old Frenchman fighting out of Paris. He has a professional MMA record of 14 wins, two defeats, and one no contest.

Jon Jones beat Gane by submission at UFC 285 in Las Vegas. ‘Good Kid’ is unbeaten in his four appearances since, beating Serghei Spivac by TKO and earning Performance of the Night in the French capital.

Gane then beat Alexander Volkonov, had a no contest with Tom Aspinall following an accidental eye poke, and stopped Alex Pereira inside two rounds last time.

Challenger Josh Hokit is an American heavyweight, and many believe that the 28-year-old is the future of the division.

‘The Incredible Hok’ boasts a 10-fight unbeaten record. He has won six by knockout, three by submission, and one by points decision. We last saw Josh in action when he KO’d Derrick Lewis in round two on UFC Freedom 250.

Frank’s Pick

Gane is the pre-fight betting favourite, with traders believing his experience will make the difference on fight night.

I make Hokit the value play here, but will avoid picking sides and bet on the headliner not going the distance. With this bet, it doesn’t matter which fighter wins, as long as the fight isn’t decided on the scorecards.

Gane vs Holkit not testing the scoring judges appeals at 4/9 with many respected sportsbooks.

Harrison vs Nunes

I switch my attention to the chief support, with Kayla Harrison defending her women’s bantamweight title against dangerous challenger Amanda Nunes.

Harrison fans will remember her as the first female fighter to win an Olympic gold medal and go on to lift the UFC championship. Her record stands at 19 wins against one defeat. The 36-year-old from Ohio lost by decision to Larissa Pacheco in 2022, but has won each of her four bouts since.

Amanda Nunes is the 38-year-old challenger from Brazil, a former UFC featherweight champion and two-time bantamweight champion. Does she have what it takes to regain the crown? ‘Lioness’ won her last two, taking her record to 23 wins against five defeats.

Frank’s Pick

Bookmakers have the champion as their favourite to hold off the former champ. Odds of 8/15 on Harrison claiming a 20th career win aren’t huge, but it’ll do a good job in your fight night accumulators and UFC Bet Builders.

Follow the market and back Harrison to defeat Nunes. Playing the fight-winner market covers you for a KO, points or submission win. If the champion is victorious, you’ll beat the bookies and make a profit.

Borralho vs Belgaroui

The third and final fight covered is Caio Borralho vs Yousri Belgaroui in the middleweight division.

Borralho is a Brazilian fighting out of São Paulo. He has 18 wins against two defeats, with both losses on points. He’s a well-rounded fighter who’s as comfortable on the floor as he is standing and striking. Borralho has nine points wins, five by KO and four by submission.

Yousri Belgaroui is a Tunisian-Dutch former kickboxer based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He’s a top-10 ranked MMA fighter in the UFC middleweight charts. ‘The Boogeyman’ brings an 11-3 record, but has won his last six bouts. We last saw Belgaroui in Arizona knocking out Djorden Santos just two months ago.

Frank’s Pick

This is a really interesting fight, with both men knowing it could be a crossroads. The winner will go on to bigger and better things, while the loser will lick their wounds and plan their next move in 2027.

Caio Borralho is my pick, and I’m taking him in the fight-winner market at 3/5.

Borralho is the more technical fighter, and that’ll show, especially in the later rounds. Again, you’re covered for any outcome as long as Caio wins, with a first-round KO/TKO paying the same as a points win or a submission.