UFC 265 results, highlights: Ciryl Gane claims interim heavyweight crown with TKO of Derrick Lewis

France has its first champion as Gane made easy work of Derrick Lewis to claim the interim title in Houston

Fans hoping for drama and high-intensity action in the interim heavyweight championship bout between Ciryl Gane and Derrick Lewis at UFC 265 were likely left wanting more after the dust had settled. Rather than a dramatic war in the main event, Gane put together a technical masterpiece, breaking down Lewis with leg kicks before scoring a third-round TKO to win the belt.

Lewis never got his dangerous offense going in the main event from Houston's Toyota Center. Gane controlled the fight with his leg kicks and a stinging jab to keep things at a range better suited to his reach advantage. The attack was so effective that Lewis only connected with one significant strike in the first round.

Things did not get better in the second or third for Lewis as the leg kicks continued to land, drawing bigger reactions and signaling to Gane that it was time to pounce. Once Lewis was appropriately broken down, Gane pounced with a flurry of heavy strikes, eventually sending Lewis to the canvas where he covered up until the referee called a halt to the action at the 4:11 mark of Round 3.

At the end of the fight, Gane held a 98-16 advantage in significant strikes landed. This mastery of range, footwork and timing has helped Gane improve to 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the UFC Octagon.

"Everybody knows already what is my game plan," Gane said after his victory. "I like to move. There are no secrets. This was the game plan, of course."

The interim belt was attached to Gane vs. Lewis when Francis Ngannou was unable to defend his belt on the show after winning it in March. Lewis was set to be the next man up for Ngannou, but had to settle for a shot at interim status against Gane. Lewis holds a win over Ngannou, whose style plays more toward exchanges where Lewis' shocking power can come into play more than Gane's technical approach.

Now the interim champion, and the first French champion in UFC history, Gane had a simple message for heavyweight champ Ngannou ahead of their now nearly-guaranteed matchup.

"Let's go. Just, let's go," Gane said.

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 instant analysis to UFC 265 as soon as the event concludes on Saturday night in Houston.

Elsewhere on the card, Jose Aldo looked anything but old in his showdown with Pedro Munhoz in the co-main event. The former featherweight king battled and boxed to near perfection against his fellow Brazilian as he earned a second straight victory in the bantamweight division. At 34, he could still be a factor in the title picture at 135. Plus, Vicente Luque continues to finish everyone in his path as he stopped Michael Chiesa with a D'Arce choke in the first round of their welterweight showdown. Luque is now 14-3 in the UFC with an astounding 13 of those victories coming by stoppage.

CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday bringing you all the results and highlights from the UFC 265 below.

UFC 265 card and results

  • Ciryl Gane (ic) def. Derrick Lewis via third-round TKO (punches)
  • Jose Aldo def. Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Vicente Luque def. Michael Chiesa via first-round submission (D'Arce choke)
  • Tecia Torres def. Angela Hill via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Song Yadong def. Casey Kenney via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
  • Rafael Fiziev def. Bobby Green via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Vince Morales def. Drako Rodriguez via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Alonzo Menifield def. Ed Herman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Jessica Penne def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via first-round submission (armbar)
  • Manel Kape def. Ode Osbourne via first-round TKO (knee and punches)
  • Miles Johns def. Anderson Dos Santos via third-round knockout (punch)
  • Melissa Gatto def. Victoria Leonardo via second-round TKO (doctor stoppage)
  • Johnny Munoz Jr. def. Jamey Simmons via second-round submission (rear naked choke)
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Gane tried to land an elbow inside and Lewis was able to grab a clinch but Gane managed to reverse position and escape. Lewis missed a few lunging punches and took more leg kicks before Gane started to unload with punches looking for the finish. Gane dropped Lewis with a hook and continued to flurry but Lewis survived and started to try to bomb with return fire. Lewis grabbed at his eye in the next exchange, going to the canvas where Gane flurried with strikes for the stoppage. Official result: Ciryl Gane def. Derrick Lewis via TKO (punches), Round 3

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Derrick Lewis vs. Ciryl Gane -- Round 3: Gane remained committed to the leg kick attack and brought the right hoon behind it to land to the side of Lewis' head. The leg kicks appeared to be having more effect in this round, with Lewis reacting more every time they landed.

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Gane landed a crisp elbow inside before sliding out of range of the return blow from Lewis. Another round in the books and another good round for Gane.

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Lewis managed to clinch up but Gane reversed to put Lewis' back against the cage. Gane worked with knees to the thighs in the clinch. 34-2 advantage in significant strikes for Gane at the 1:30 mark of Round 2.

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Derrick Lewis vs. Ciryl Gane -- Round 2: Gane opened again with leg kicks and jabs, his two best range-controlling weapons. Lewis threw a jumping high kick that missed the mark. Gane was poked in the eye for the second time in the fight but the action continued. Lewis charged in for a takedown but Gane was able to shrug him off to break the clinch.

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When the action resumed, Gane went right back to the leg kicks before landing a right hand and clinching to keep Lewis from taking advantage of any change in distance. Lewis grabbed Gane from behind and nearly landed a right hand but Gane was able to sprint out of danger. Gane landed a jab and a right hand before another right hand landed and Lewis grabbed at his eye. The referee told Lewis it was a punch and not a poke and action resumed to the horn. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Gane

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Lewis tried to move forward to get into range to land one of his massive punches but Gane circled, slid and even ran off the cage to maintain range. Gane mixed in some jabs in between the leg kicks. Lewis managed to land his first strike at the 1:45 mark of the round when he hit to the body. A Lewis kick landed to Gane's cup, leading to a break in the action for Gane to recover.

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Derrick Lewis vs. Ciryl Gane -- Round 1: Gane opened with a stomp kick at Lewis' knee and Lewis slipped to the canvas after missing a head kick. Gane missed with a jab but continued throwing the kicks to Lewis' legs. 

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It's almost main event time. Derrick Lewis vs. Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight championship is up next!

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Official result: Jose Aldo def. Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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Aldo landed a heavy leg kick that dropped Munhoz briefly. Aldo threw back to the legs again moments later. Aldo began mixing those leg kicks in more often and then coming up top with his hands. Munhoz got stuck in neutral a bit, hesitating to engage before throwing wild strikes that lacked accuracy. Also threw a heavy combination late before the final horn.

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Jose Aldo vs. Pedro Munhoz -- Round 3: Aldo flurried hard at the start of the round, landing some clean strikes with blistering speed. Aldo then settled down to working off his jab again as Munhoz threw a spinning, jumping kick that missed badly. Aldo tripled up on the jab, snapping Munhoz's head back before landing a three punch combination to the head before going downstairs to the body and then throwing a leg kick.

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Munhoz kept a very active pace but was often running into that heavy jab of Aldo. Aldo landed a sharp right and two shots to the body. Munhoz threw a few leg kicks but Aldo continued to easily check them before throwing the jab and just missing with an uppercut.

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Jose Aldo vs. Pedro Munhoz -- Round 2: Aldo opened with three jabs and Munhoz connected with a left hook. Aldo cracked with a heavy leg kick. Aldo landed a good combination and then dug back to the body before popping with a stiff jab. That jab continued to land hard for Aldo, but Munhoz landed a quick right hand. 

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Aldo came around Munhoz's guard with a left hook and landed a good uppercut as Munhoz lunged in. Aldo continued swinging to the body and letting his hands come up to the head to end the combination. Aldo landed another big uppercut before easily avoiding a spinning kick from Munhoz. 

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Jose Aldo vs. Pedro Munhoz -- Round 1: Munhoz opened with a sminning back kick that was blocked by Aldo. Munhoz tried to continue firing combinations as Aldo waited for an opening. Aldo let his hands go with two punches to the body. Munhoz landed a few leg kicks but Aldo checked most of the incoming shots to his legs before landing a heavy knee. Aldo continued digging to the body with punches before Munhoz landed a good right hand.

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It's co-main event time! Jose Aldo is out to try to earn another shot at bantamweight gold and the next step requires getting past Pedro Munhoz.

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Brandon Wise
August 8, 2021, 3:36 AM
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Brandon Wise
August 8, 2021, 3:35 AM
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Chiesa tried to lock up the rear-naked choke but Luque managed to turn through it and lock in a deep d'arce choke, squeezing to the finish. Incredible stuff from Luque to escape and turn the tables so quickly. Official result: Vicente Luque def. Michael Chiesa via submission (d'arce choke), Round 1.

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Vicente Luque vs. Michael Chiesa -- Round 1: Chiesa pawed with a long jab as Luque tried to slowly cut off the cage. Luque landed a leg kick but Chiesa drilled him in return with a straight right hand that cut Luque. Chiesa drove forward to score his first takedown of the fight, quickly moving to take the back.

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We move on to a welterweight banger! Vicente Luque vs. Michael Chiesa is up next.

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