MixedMartialArts.com’s expert breaks down the five most appealing matchups at UFC 265, on Saturday, August 7, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
UFC 265’s best fights on the card ranked
1. Derrick Lewis (+280) vs Ciryl Gane (-365)
The main event of UFC 265 is undoubtedly the biggest fight of the night, as top-ranked contenders Derrick Lewis (25-7) and Ciryl Gane (9-0) will face off in Houston for the interim UFC heavyweight title.
The second-ranked Lewis stands alone atop the heavyweight knockout record books, holding a division-best 12 victories by strikes. The Houston native has won four straight fights en route to his second career title fight.
The third-ranked Gane only joined the UFC in 2019 as a 3-0 prospect, but victories in his first six UFC appearances — including in two main event slots — have him on the cusp of earning UFC gold. A sophisticated striker with a well-rounded grappling game, Gane is a threat both on the feet and on the mat.
Should Lewis walk from the cage victorious, it would set up a second fight with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, whom Lewis defeated by decision in their underwhelming 2018 meeting. If Gane were to win at UFC 265, he would be in line to face a former teammate and friend in Ngannou. Either way, the fight promises entertainment and drama in the UFC’s heavyweight division.
2. Jose Aldo (-120) vs Pedro Munhoz (+100)
Following the withdrawal of Amanda Nunes from the card after the two-division champion tested positive for COVID-19, bantamweights Jose Aldo (29-7) and Pedro Munhoz (19-5) were promoted to the co-main event in what promises to be a high-octane matchup.
Aldo, who is often cited as the greatest featherweight in MMA history, snapped a three-fight skid in his most recent outing with a unanimous decision win over ranked talent Marlon Vera. Having fought for the undisputed title in 2020 against Petr Yan, the 34-year-old will look to turn back the clock against Munhoz in hopes of securing another shot at the title.
Munhoz is also coming off a win after consecutive losses. Having dispatched Jimmie Rivera in his last Octagon appearance. The former RFA champion has won seven of his last 10 fights and displayed much-improved striking in his recent outings.
With title contention visible on the horizon for both, look for the Brazilian bantamweights to possibly steal the show at UFC 265.
3. Rafael Fiziev (-310) vs Bobby Green (+245)
Though the lightweight bout between Rafael Fiziev (8-1) and Bobby Green (27-11-1) will take place on the preliminary portion of the UFC 265 broadcast, fans are sure to be thrilled when these two strikers do battle on ESPN.
Fiziev, 28, has gone a perfect 3-0 since dropping his Octagon debut back in April 2019. An incredibly gifted striker with a penchant for Matrix-esque dodges and vicious knockouts, Fiziev has been on hardcore fans’ radars for some time. He’ll face a stiff test in Green, a divisional veteran and all-around action fighter who had a breakout year in 2020.
Formerly a Strikeforce standout who signed with the UFC in 2013, Green won three straight decisions to kick off his year in impressive fashion. Though he lost a decision to Thiago Moises in his most recent appearance, Green promises excitement each and every outing.
Fiziev and Green are two of the division’s most entertaining standouts, so a meeting between the two ought to be in consideration for Fight of the Night honors.
4. Manel Kape (-195) vs Ode Osbourne (+165)
The flyweight division has been a polarizing one in the past — even being rumored at one point to be ousted from the UFC — but there’s no debate about the excitement value present in the division in 2021. Enter Manel Kape (14-6) and Ode Osbourne (9-3), who are set to clash on the preliminary portion of UFC 265.
Kape, 27, is a former Rizin champion who signed with the UFC in 2020. His first two outings haven’t gone according to plan, with the Angolan-Portuguese fighter dropping back-to-back decisions to Alexandre Pantoja and Matheus Nicolau. An intriguing action fighter, Kape will look to right the ship on Saturday.
Osbourne, 29, dropped to flyweight after joining the UFC roster as a bantamweight on the strength of a successful appearance in Dana White’s Contender Series. An uber-athletic talent with skills both on the feet and on the mat, Osbourne is a prospect to watch at 125 pounds.
Fans should be dazzled by the athleticism and lightning-quick power on display in this flyweight matchup.
5. Vicente Luque (-115) vs Michael Chiesa (-105)
Two of the welterweight division’s Top 10 are set to throw down at UFC 265, as Brazil’s Vicente Luque (18-7-1) battles Michael Chiesa (16-4) on the main card.
Luque, 29, is the UFC’s sixth-ranked contender at 170 pounds. A longtime favorite of hardcore fans as a dark horse in the division, Luque has won three straight since a 2019 loss to Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. With a win over Chiesa, Luque could position himself squarely in the title conversation, perhaps facing one of the welterweight elites in his next outing.
The Washingtonian Chiesa moved up to the division from lightweight in 2018 and has been perfect since, compiling a 4-0 record at welterweight and headlining in his most recent outing. Holding wins over former interim UFC welterweight champion Carlos Condit and former lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos, Chiesa could be well on his way to serious title contention with a win over Luque at UFC 265.
The fight is an intriguing one, as Luque is primarily a heavy-handed striker while Chiesa typically stifles his opponents with world-class MMA wrestling and jiu-jitsu skills.
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
