Jon Anik says Ciryl Gane's legacy is 'a little bit weird' before Josh Hokit title fight

The UFC's lead commentator also says that when Gane is on, he is "hard for any heavyweight from any era to contend with". Gane defends the heavyweight title at UFC 334 on Saturday.

Jon Anik, the UFC's lead commentator, says Ciryl Gane's legacy is "a little bit weird", days before Gane defends the heavyweight title against Josh Hokit in the UFC 334 main event.

Anik was asked on MMA Junkie Radio how Gane can build his own legacy, with the host pointing out that Francis Ngannou is in another promotion and that Hokit has only about 10 fights. "It's a great question. He certainly has carried the torch for France. I think sometimes we underestimate his star power," Anik said.

He went on: "His legacy is a little bit weird, right, when you think about the three shots at the undisputed heavyweight title and he hasn't had the belt wrapped around his waist after ... any of those three fights."

Anik also praised Gane at his best. He said that when he asked Gane in a fighter meeting how he knows he is in the flow state, Gane told him it was every fight. "You almost believe him, you know. So when you talk about a heavyweight who, when he is on, he is hard for any heavyweight from any era to contend with, you know, Ciryl Gane is that guy," Anik said.

He also said he credits Gane's win over Alex Pereira "maybe differently than some other people do, even if the narrative became sort of the punches to the back of the head". Pereira has criticised Gane over strikes to the back of the head in that fight. "So I think his legacy, you know, has future building, but, you know, at this point it kind of is what it is. You know, you can't change the past," Anik said.

Looking past Saturday, Anik said a Gane fight with Sergei Pavlovich "potentially could be huge", and that if Pereira "can do something special against Sergei Pavlovich, then that lays the foundation for that rematch". Pereira faces Pavlovich in the UFC 335 co-main event in Las Vegas on 12 December. Anik added that Tom Aspinall could also come back.

First, he said, comes Hokit: "I think Gane's just got to take care of Josh Hokit. And at least on paper, it doesn't seem to be as easy a fight as some people think it will be for him."

Gane, 14-2, meets the unbeaten Hokit, 10-0, at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday 14 November, with the main event expected at 04:00 UK time on Sunday, live on TNT Sports. Anik, who calls the card, signed a long-term extension with the UFC this week.

READ NEXTCiryl Gane on Josh Hokit's 'bad word' at their face-off: "This guy is so stupid"Read the next story →

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