UFC 265 is upon us. The promotion's latest PPV event has reached the Toyoa Center in Houston with a loaded up fight card featuring an interim heavyweight title clash in the main event. Hometown hero Derrick Lewis will look to move one step closer to a second title shot in three years when he takes on rising and undefeated contender Ciryl Gane. The pair headline a five-fight main card slated to begin at 10 p.m. ET.
Gane rose through the shallow heavyweight ranks with relative ease after making his promotional debut in August 2019. The Frenchman has a perfect 6-0 record in the Octagon an will be making just his 10th overall MMA appearance on Saturday night. He outpointed both Alexander Volkov and Jairzinho Rozenstruik in his last two appearances after scoring a thudding TKO of former champion Junior Dos Santos in December.
Lewis is a heavy-handed fan favorite who debuted for the promotion in April 2014. The UFC's all-time leader in knockouts in the heavyweight division, Lewis is getting his second shot at a championship after losing a November 2018 bout to then-champion Daniel Cormier. Lewis is one of two men to have defeated Ngannou in the UFC.
Can't get enough boxing and MMA? Get the latest in the world of combat sports from two of the best in the business. Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell for the best analysis and in-depth news, including a complete preview of UFC 265 below.
There may not be a ton of stakes attached to any of the undercard bouts on Saturday, but there's sure to be plenty of firepower. Look no further than the co-main event when Brazilians Jose Aldo and Pedro Munhoz meet in a bantamweight clash. Plus, all-action warrior Vicente Luque takes on submission and grappling specialist Michael Chiesa in a featured bout at 170 pounds that could help shape a future contender for the title. Don't sleep on the prelim main event, though, as big-time prospect Rafael Fiziev takes on veteran Bobby Green in a critical lightweight bout.
With so much happening on Saturday night, let's take a closer look at the full fight card with the latest odds from Caesars Sportsbook before we get to our staff predictions and picks for the PPV portion of the festivities.
UFC 265 fight card, odds
- Ciryl Gane -330 vs. Derrick Lewis +260, interim heavyweight championship
- Jose Aldo -120 vs. Pedro Munhoz +100, bantamweight
- Vicente Luque -110 vs. Michael Chiesa -110, welterweight
- Tecia Torres -150 vs. Angela Hill +125, women's strawweight
- Casey Kenney -115 vs. Song Yadong -105, bantamweight
- Rafael Fiziev -310 vs. Bobby Green +250, lightweight
- Karolina Kowalkiewicz -135 vs. Jessica Penne +115, women's flyweight
- Alonzo Menifield -240 vs. Ed Herman +200, light heavyweight
- Manel Kape -200 vs. Ode Osbourne +170, flyweight
- Melissa Gatto -110 vs. Victoria Leonardo -110, women's flyweight
- Miles Johns -210 vs. Anderson Dos Santos +175, bantamweights
- Drako Rodriguez -115 vs. Vince Morales -105, bantamweight
- Johnny Munoz Jr. -310 vs. Jamey Simmons +250, bantamweight
With such a massive main event on tap, the crew at CBS Sports went ahead with predictions and picks for the main card. Here are your pick makers: Brent Brookhouse (Combat sports writer), Brian Campbell (Combat sports writer, co-host of "Morning Kombat"), Matthew Coca (producer), Jack Crosby (editor), Michael Mormile (producer) and Brandon Wise (senior editor).
UFC 264 picks, predictions
| Campbell | Brookhouse | Coca | Crosby | Mormile | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis vs. Gane | Gane | Gane | Gane | Lewis | Gane |
| Aldo vs. Munhoz | Aldo | Aldo | Munhoz | Aldo | Aldo |
| Luque vs. Chiesa | Chiesa | Luque | Chiesa | Chiesa | Luque |
| Torres vs. Hill | Hill | Hill | Torres | Torres | Hill |
| Yadong vs. Kenney | Yadong | Kenney | Kenney | Yadong | Yadong |
| Records to date (2021) | 27-12 | 25-14 | 27-12 | 27-12 | 23-15 |
Campbell on why Gane will win: At 6-foot-5, with agility and foot speed that is uncommon for the division, Gane looks as though he will be a problem for just about any heavyweight. Lewis, and his large puncher's chance, is no exception. On paper, this is a fight Gane should win given his established five-round motor and ability to sidestep heavy counterfire. But the prospect of fighting in his opponent's backyard on a stage so large could be enough to even the odds just a bit. Look for Gane to be much more technical and patient than he was in stepping on the gas to overwhelm Alexander Volkov given the added level of danger. Because of that, this one should go the distance with Gane's activity level proving to be the difference.
Campbell on why Aldo will win: Let's face it, this one has all-action written all over it between two Brazilian sluggers who were born two days apart some 34 years ago. The difference, along with the huge divide in championship experience, could come down to Aldo's sneaky long reach advantage. The 135-pound version of Aldo is much more efficient than the leg kick-heavy featherweight champion of old. He walks forward just the same but is more selective in looking to land the big one. Munhoz is plenty dangerous yet vulnerable enough for Aldo to finish him when things get hairy.
Brookhouse on why Luque will win: Chiesa is a solid wrestler and looked great in beating Neil Magny in his most recent outing. Luque is a different animal, however. Luque's aggression extends to every area of the game. On the feet, he relies on a ridiculously good chin and a face-forward style that has him absorbing strikes at a higher rate than he lands, yet he holds a 13-3 record in the UFC. That aggression doesn't stop on the ground and if Chiesa does have success with takedowns, Luque will still have him on the defensive. The aggression should be enough for Luque to pull off a big win and remain on the fringes of title contention.
Who wins Lewis vs. Gane? And which fighter delivers an upset? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed top picks on UFC 265, all from the ultimate insider who's up nearly $9,500 on MMA picks in the past year, and find out.
