The main event of UFC 265 should be one of the biggest fights of the summer, as top-ranked contenders Derrick Lewis and Ciryl Gane battle for the interim UFC heavyweight title and a shot at hard-hitting champion Francis Ngannou.
Who will get first dibs on heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou after UFC 265?
The UFC’s all-time heavyweight knockout king, Lewis (25-7), enters the bout on a four-fight winning streak that most recently saw him finish Curtis Blaydes in the second round of their February matchup. Lewis is looking for his second title shot, the first being a 2018 submission loss to Daniel Cormier.
Gane (9-0), a prodigy whose MMA career began just three years ago, has looked sensational throughout his first six Octagon outings. An undefeated fighter known for his technical striking and formidable submission game, Gane will look to turn back Lewis in the hopes of securing his first UFC title.
Both men have compelling storylines in place, should they emerge the victor on Saturday night. For Lewis, a win would mean a rematch of his 2018 decision win over Ngannou decried by fans as a dud of a fight. Gane, meanwhile, is a friend and former teammate of Ngannou’s, which would set up an interesting title unification match.
Does Aldo have one last title run in him?
From 2006 to 2015, former featherweight champion Jose Aldo (29-7) was simply unbeatable. Widely viewed as one of the greatest fighters of all time, the 34-year-old Brazilian snapped a three-fight skid in his most recent Octagon appearance in his first victory at bantamweight, a division below his longtime weight class.
He fought for the bantamweight belt against Petr Yan in 2020, so it’s not a stretch to say that Aldo remains in title contention despite his lengthy career and recent struggles. But does he have the poise for one last run at gold? Fans will hopefully get a clearer answer to that question at UFC 265 when Aldo faces countryman Pedro Munhoz (19-5), himself a dangerous finisher with title aspirations.
Munhoz, also 34, enters the bout having beaten Jimmie Rivera by decision in his latest performance. The heavy-handed submission threat is good everywhere, and with a win over Aldo, he could break into the division’s top five with an eye on a potential rematch with champion Aljamain Sterling.
Is Jessica Penne 2.0 for real?
Jessica Penne (13-4) wowed the MMA world with her 2021 split-decision victory over Lupita Godinez, a former LFA champion and the heavy favorite, in what was Penne’s first fight since 2017.
A USADA suspension, injuries, and an opponent testing positive for COVID-19 kept Penne out of action for over four years. Yet Penne, 38, looked great against Godinez and snapped a three-fight losing streak in the process. At UFC 265, Penne will look to keep her momentum going against former title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz (12-7), who has lost four straight.
If Penne is able to score a decisive victory against the Polish veteran, it would prove the performance against Godinez was no fluke and that Penne is back and ready for more.
Who’s the new blood at 170 pounds?
The conversation around the UFC welterweight division has been largely dominated by the same names for the past few years. The seemingly unbeatable champion in Kamaru Usman, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, Colby Covington, and fellow top contenders Jorge Masvidal, Leon Edwards, and Gilbert Burns are all central to the top of the division rankings.
Enter Michael Chiesa (16-4) and Vicente Luque (18-7-1), who are set to fight at UFC 265. Both Chiesa and Brazil’s Luque are riding multi-fight win streaks, and with a win against the other, could make some noise near the top of the division.
The 33-year-old Chiesa has been a perfect 4-0 since moving up to the weight class from lightweight — including victories former interim welterweight champ Carlos Condit and former lightweight titlist Rafael dos Anjos — on the strength of his superb wrestling and grappling.
Luque, 29, has been a flawless 3-0 since a 2019 loss to Thompson. The Sanford MMA product, long a favorite of hardcore MMA fans for his vicious left hook and sophisticated striking, defeated former 170-pound champion, Tyron Woodley, by first-round submission in his last outing.
This main card matchup could prove to be the coming-out party of the next welterweight contender.
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
