The main event of UFC 265 will see top-ranked heavyweight contenders Ciryl Gane (+365) and Derrick Lewis (-280) square off for the interim UFC title and a shot at current heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
Cyril Gane vs Derrick Lewis headlines UFC 265
Gane, 31, has rocketed up the divisional rankings. He’s currently ranked third and his rise since signing with the UFC in 2019 has been astronomical. Gane is 9-0 as a professional.
With his technical striking abilities and surprisingly nimble ground game, Gane emerged as a true threat at heavyweight after scoring a second-round technical knockout of former UFC champion Junior dos Santos at UFC 256.
Following back-to-back main event unanimous decision wins over Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alexander Volkov, Gane will face unmatched knockout machine Derrick Lewis in the UFC 265 headliner.
Lewis, 36, fought for the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship against then-champion Daniel Cormier in 2018. After a loss to dos Santos afterward, Lewis has gone unbeaten in his last four Octagon appearances. He’s now ranked second and hasn’t lost a decision since 2011.
Among his impressive resume bullet points, Lewis has defeated nearly 50 percent of the top 15 contenders and would exceed the halfway mark by defeating Gane. Coming off of back-to-back knockout stoppages of Alexei Oleinik and Curtis Blaydes, respectively, Lewis will look to challenge for UFC gold against the upstart in what promises to be an exciting affair.
Should Gane be victorious, it would set up a title unification against former teammate and friend Francis Ngannou. If Lewis is able to clinch interim gold, he would line up a rematch with Ngannou. The Houston native bested the Cameroonian by decision in 2018 in a fight many regarded as a dud.
UFC 265 takes place on August 7, inside the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The preliminary portion of the card will begin at 6 pm ET on ESPN and streaming service ESPN+. The main card follows at 10 pm ET, exclusively on ESPN+ with a pay-per-view cost of US $69.99.
–Field Level Media
