Dana White Confirms Ciryl Gane as Undisputed Heavyweight Champion

UFC CEO Dana White cleared up confusion regarding the status of the heavyweight title, confirming that Ciryl Gane is the promotion's undisputed champion. Questions had surfaced after White previously stated plans to crown a new champion in November following Tom Aspinall's decision to relinquish the title amid ongoing recovery from multiple eye surgeries. Gane had previously captured the interim belt by scoring a knockout victory over Alex Pereira at UFC White House.

Speaking at the UFC 331 post-fight press conference, White acknowledged his earlier misstatement about the belt. "True [Ciryl Gane is the undisputed champion]," White stated. "Nothing [changed], I f*cked up." With the title status formalized, Gane is now set to defend his heavyweight championship against Josh Hokit in the main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The upcoming matchup comes despite White's documented displeasure with Hokit's outlandish behavior and antics. White previously criticized the heavyweight for remarks concerning former First Lady Michelle Obama during the UFC White House event in June. While White admitted his view of Hokit's commentary remains unchanged, he emphasized that personal preferences do not stop contenders from competing at the highest level.

"I say it all the time—I don’t have to like you for you to thrive here and you to do well and be successful," White said. "Many people that I do not like have done very well here. I’m not saying that I don’t like Josh Hokit.

I literally don’t f*cking like anything that Josh Hokit says. That’s not going to change unless he changes, which I don’t see happening. That’s a ‘me’ issue and I’m sure a ‘you’ issue."