Ciryl Gane beats Josh Hokit on all three scorecards at UFC 334

Ciryl Gane beat Josh Hokit by unanimous decision in the UFC 334 heavyweight title fight, with all three judges scoring the contest 48-47, according to HEAVY, as republished by Yahoo! Sports.

The main event went the full five rounds, 25 minutes in all. HEAVY reported that it came down to a couple of close early rounds on which the judges were split.

A fight that could have gone either way

HEAVY described the contest as back-and-forth and said it could have gone either way. Alex Pereira, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, watched from the front row.

Pereira has had issues with both fighters in the past, according to HEAVY.

Pereira sides with Hokit

Backstage, Pereira found Hokit and told him he felt Hokit deserved the decision. "Hey bro. Chama, congrats my brother. For me, you won," Pereira said.

Hokit replied: "Best of luck in your fight. Chama."

The two have history. At the UFC Freedom 250 card at the White House in June, Hokit traded heavy trash talk with Pereira in an attempt to provoke a fight. UFC president Dana White has said he would like to see Pereira against Hokit booked at some point.

Pereira first faces Sergei Pavlovich in the co-main event of UFC 335 in December. HEAVY reports that a fight with Hokit could depend on the outcome of that bout.

Jones weighs in

Jon Jones also reacted on social media. He congratulated Gane and took a swipe at Hokit, who comes from Jackson-Wink MMA Academy, the gym where Jones trains.

"Good job Frenchman," Jones said. "Same coaches different results."

Jones previously beat Gane by submission to win the UFC heavyweight title. HEAVY speculated that Jones, who is retired, could consider a second fight with Gane, though nothing has been announced.

What comes next at heavyweight

Hokit wants a rematch with Gane, but it is unclear whether the UFC would book a second fight between them so soon.

The UFC has not committed to who gets the next heavyweight title shot. HEAVY named Alexander Volkov, the winner of Pavlovich against Pereira, and Tom Aspinall, if he is healthy, as possible contenders.

Did Gane deserve the decision, or should Hokit have got the nod, as Pereira believes?