Watch Josh Hokit train blindfolded to prepare for eye pokes in UFC 334 title fight with Ciryl Gane

The undefeated heavyweight challenger faces Gane for the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. Ahead of that fight, Hokit posted a video on social media showing him working without sight, a clear attempt to get ready for one of MMA’s ugliest hazards: eye pokes.

That kind of foul can alter a fight in an instant. In a title bout, where five hard rounds can hinge on tiny margins, anything that affects vision can change the rhythm, the distance and the confidence of both men. Hokit’s approach suggests he is trying to prepare for every possible scenario, not just the clean exchanges fans hope to see.

Blindfold training is not a standard part of a fight camp, which is why the video stood out. Still, the logic is easy to understand. Fighters spend years drilling reactions, hand position and defensive awareness, and work like this adds another layer by forcing them to trust feel, timing and balance rather than sight alone.

For Hokit, the message is simple: he does not want a foul to catch him unready in the biggest assignment on the card. For Gane, the clip adds another small detail to a matchup already carrying championship stakes and heavyweight pressure.

When the cage door closes at Madison Square Garden, the main question will be whether Hokit’s preparation pays off if the fight gets messy. Fans will also be watching to see whether the bout is decided by clean technique, composure and championship nerve rather than one accidental mistake.