Even with an entire nation in the corner of Derrick Lewis, Frenchman Ciryl Gane emerged victorious at the Toyota Center in Houston at UFC 265.
Gane (10-0-0) used his range to soften up Lewis for two rounds before using a final blitz in the third round to score a TKO and win the interim heavyweight title. While Lewis (25-8-0, 1NC) landed some occasional shots, there were not enough to disrupt the rhythm and gameplan of Gane.
The win sets up a unification bout with Gane’s former training partner and current undisputed champion, Francis Ngannou.
Ngannou was originally supposed to fight Lewis but needed more time, which prompted the UFC to set up Gane instead. In the post-fight press conference, White said that he hoped to set up the unification bout before the end of the year.
Gane, Jessica Penne, Miles Johns, and Vicente Luque earned performances of the night, while Rafael Fiziez and Bobby Green earned Fight of the Night.
These two 𝑫𝑬𝑳𝑰𝑽𝑬𝑹𝑬𝑫.
💸 Bobby Green & @RafaelFiziev earn your FOTN!
[ B2YB @ToyoTires | #UFC265 ] pic.twitter.com/bGvqFpICLC
— UFC (@ufc) August 8, 2021
Each fighter earned a $50,000 bonus.
There were 𝑭𝑶𝑼𝑹 👀
💰 @Ciryl_Gane
💰 @MilesXJohns
💰 @VicenteLuqueMMA
💰 @JessicaPenne[ B2YB @P3Protein | #UFC265 ] pic.twitter.com/TdNfMKhTOZ
— UFC (@ufc) August 8, 2021
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the card.
UFC 265 FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
JOHNNY MUNOZ JR. VS. JAMEY SIMMONS
Now THAT'S how you kick off #UFC265!
💢 @KidKvenbo gets the sub in RD 2 via RNC. pic.twitter.com/o99saU3KgG
— UFC (@ufc) August 7, 2021
WINNER: JOHNNY MUNOZ JR. VIA SUBMISSION (RNC) R2 2:35
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JOHNNY MUNOZ JR. VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Munoz did what Munoz does. Good win.
VICTORIA LEONARDO VS. MELISSA GATTO
No doubting the toughness of @VLeo0216.
Doctor stops this one after round 2️⃣. #UFC256 pic.twitter.com/dkZGabeKjL
— UFC (@ufc) August 7, 2021
WINNER: MELISSA GATTO VIA TKO (DOCTOR’S STOPPAGE) R2 5:00
ANDREWS PREDICTION: VICTORIA LEONARDO VIA UD
Andrews: Leonardo is warrior for wanting to compete with a broken arm – again.
MILES JOHNS VS. ANDERSON DOS SANTOS
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! 😱
Did @MilesXJohns just do that?!? #UFC265 pic.twitter.com/46yf31apim
— UFC (@ufc) August 7, 2021
WINNER: MILES JOHNS VIA KO (PUNCH) R3 1:16
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MILES JOHN VIA UD
Andrews: What an overhand right by John!
MANEL KAPE VS. ODO OSBOURNE
JUST LIKE THAT ⚡️ @ManelKape adding one to the highlight reel!!! #UFC265 pic.twitter.com/S1XB8cq2cH
— UFC (@ufc) August 7, 2021
WINNER: MANEL KAPE VIA TKO (FLYING KNEE) R1 4:44
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ODO OSBOURNE VIA TKO
Andrews: Kape missed weight but that was an amazing flying knee.
KAROLINA KOWALKIEWICZ VS. JESSICA PENNE
Flipping the script!
💥 @JessicaPenne gets the armbar in RD 1! #UFC265 pic.twitter.com/Cc6ktjlT2m
— UFC (@ufc) August 8, 2021
WINNER: JESSICA PENNE VIA SUBMISSION (ARMBAR) R1 4:32
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KAROLINA KOWALKIEWICZ VIA UD
Andrews: Five losses in a row. KK is done.
ALONZO MENIFIELD VS. ED HERMAN
All respect after these two go the distance 🤝 #UFC265 pic.twitter.com/Fcql9w5shL
— UFC (@ufc) August 8, 2021
WINNER: ALONZO MENIFIELD VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ED HERMAN VIA UD
Andrews: Herman’s luck ran out.
VINCE MORALES VS. DRAKO RODRIGUEZ
Bringing the HEAT in the last 15 seconds of RD 3🔥 #UFC265 pic.twitter.com/UTTDWpUShW
— UFC (@ufc) August 8, 2021
WINNER: VINCE MORALES VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: VINCE MORALES VIA UD
Andrews: It’s a start for Vince to build something.
ESPN 2 PRELIMS
BOBBY GREEN VS. RAFAEL FIZIEV
AS ADVERTISED 👏 #UFC265 pic.twitter.com/IDRT8A0N8W
— UFC (@ufc) August 8, 2021
WINNER: RAFAEL FIZIEV VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: RAFAEL FIZIEV VIA UD
Andrews: Fiziev outworked Green, as expected.
MAIN CARD
CASEY KENNEDY VS. YONG SADONG
Went the distance ⚡️
🇨🇳 @SongYadongMMA is back in the win column via split decision at #UFC265! pic.twitter.com/bOyg4cRSXV
— UFC (@ufc) August 8, 2021
WINNER: YONG SADONG VIA SD (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: CASEY KENNEDY VIA UD
Andrews: A close fight. Great counterstriking by Sadong.
TECIA TORRES VS. ANGELA HILL
Down to the wire!
These strawweights turned on the heat for all 3 RDs 🔥 #UFC265 pic.twitter.com/suiyirt0Bg
— UFC (@ufc) August 8, 2021
WINNER: TECIA TORRES VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: TECIA TORRES VIA UD
Andrews: Speed won over power.
VICENTE LUQUE VS. MICHAEL CHIESA
OH MY GOSH!!! 😱 @VicenteLuqueMMA just reversed it on him! #UFC265 pic.twitter.com/JTBj7W3j47
— UFC (@ufc) August 8, 2021
WINNER: VINCENT LUQUE VIA SUBMISSION (D’ARCE CHOKE) R1 3:25
ANDREWS PREDICTION: VINCENT LUQUE VIA TKO
Andrews: Another excellent win for Luque but nothing for Chiesa to be embarrassed about.
JOSE ALDO VS. PEDRO MUNHOZ
VINTAGE Jose Aldo letting it go in the final seconds 😤
[ @JoseAldoJunior | #UFC265 ] pic.twitter.com/21CvItbRiI
— UFC (@ufc) August 8, 2021
WINNER: JOSE ALDO VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JOSE ALDO VIA UD
Andrews: Another vintage performance from Aldo.
MAIN EVENT
DERRICK LEWIS VS. CIRYL GANE
WINNER: CIRYL GANE VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R3 4:11
FRANCE STAND UP 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷 @Ciryl_Gane #AndNew #UFC265 pic.twitter.com/HCW0mgnpEp
— UFC (@ufc) August 8, 2021
ANDREWS PREDICTION: CIRYL GANE VIA UD
Andrews: Gane looked impressive using his range to keep Lewis stationary. Let’s the unification bout asap.
The next UFC event is UFC on ESPN 29 which is scheduled for Aug. 21 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Middleweight Jared Cannonier takes on Kelvin Gastelum in the main event.
@kenaiandrews
