TJ Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz drop a huge take!!! The last year Ciryl Gane has been under fire from the MMA world for some questionable moves while fighting but, the two former champions don't share the same view as people. Cruz and Dillashaw both agree if someone is able to eye poke you, that's on you. Both men agree if you let someone in range and they eye poke you then it was your fault for being in range which will upset a lot of UFC fans. Gane is set to defend his heavyweight title at Madison Square Garden against Josh Hokit at UFC 334. What are your thoughts on this?
Former champions TJ Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz have stepped into the debate over Ciryl Gane's fighting style, with both saying a fighter who gets eye-poked has partly himself to blame. The comments land as the heavyweight champion prepares to defend his belt against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden.
Gane has faced criticism from parts of the MMA world over the past year for what some see as questionable tactics in the cage. Cruz and Dillashaw disagree. Their shared view is that a fighter who lets an opponent into range and gets poked in the eye put himself in that position, a stance likely to irritate many fans.
The fighters involved
Gane, 36, is 14-2 and holds the heavyweight title. The Frenchman, who trains at MMA Factory, lands 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy. His most recent recorded fight was a second-round TKO of Alex Pereira in a title bout at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, 2026. Before that, his October 2025 title fight with Tom Aspinall at UFC 321 ended in a no contest when Aspinall could not continue in the first round.
Cruz, 41, is 24-4 and fought at bantamweight in the UFC. The Alliance MMA fighter's most recent recorded fight was a fourth-round TKO loss to Marlon Vera in August 2022. Dillashaw, 40, is 18-5, and his most recent recorded fight was a second-round TKO loss to Aljamain Sterling in a title fight at UFC 280 in October 2022.
Why it matters
The two men know each other well inside the cage. Cruz beat Dillashaw by split decision over five rounds in January 2016.
- Gane's length is a built-in factor: his 81-inch reach is 13 inches longer than Cruz's 68 inches and 14 inches longer than Dillashaw's 67 inches.
- Their comments carry weight with fans because both are former champions known for footwork and range control.
- The debate adds attention to Gane's title defense against Hokit at UFC 334.
The view from Cruz and Dillashaw frames range management as the fighter's responsibility. How that argument lands with fans and with Gane's critics is likely to be part of the conversation as the New York card approaches.
