UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane successfully defended his title for the first time, sweeping the scorecards 48-47, 48-47, 48-47 against Josh Hokit in the main event of UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday night. France's Gane (15-2) got up quickly from an early takedown by Hokit (10-1), then landed a few sharp jabs, uppercuts and an overhand right as he countered Hokit's forward pressure. Hokit did, however, close the round with a slam with just over 30 seconds remaining.