In what could be the most controversial UFC fight this year, Lewis vs. Gane goes down this Saturday night as UFC 265 kicks off from the Toyota Center in Houston, Lewis’s stomping grounds.
The UFC announced the Derrick Lewis vs. Ciryl Gane fight three months after Francis Ngannou won the heavyweight title, sparking a brief social media spat between his manager, Marquel Martin, and UFC president Dana White. MMA fans took the news hard as well, unsatisfied with a meaningless fight so soon after crowning Ngannou heavyweight king.
Controversy grew the day following the fight announcement when UFC announced a multi-card PPV deal with the Toyota Center as Lewis was born and raised in Houston.
That’s neither here nor there now. What’s important is Saturday night and the Lewis vs. Gane fight that’s before us, love it or hate it. Winner takes all in the bout, earning a shot at the real title in a fight against Ngannou later this year.
Derrick Lewis
One of the most feared men in UFC, Derrick Lewis (25-7) comes into UFC 265 on a four-fight win streak, having defeated every opponent he’s met in the octagon since 2019 with unassailable strength and power. Almost all his fights have ended in knockouts and rarely does he walk out of the octagon defeated.
Lewis defeated Curtis Blaydes at UFC Fight Night 185 in February, moving him to the No. 2 heavyweight contender slot. With Ngannou unavailable for an August fight date, Lewis settled for the interim bout, confident he’ll face Ngannou for the title should he defeat Gane.
Lewis holds the record for most knockouts in UFC heavyweight history, showing dominating strength beyond comprehension and certainly out of the league of even the greatest athletes in UFC history.
Cyril Gane
Defeating Frenchman Ciryl Gane (9-0) may cause Lewis more trouble than anticipated. Gane remains cool, calm and collected during his fights, bringing a well-rounded game to the octagon. He stands tall with an undefeated 9-0 professional fighting record, unarguably one of the greatest heavyweights to grace the octagon.
Gane has technical skills unsurpassed by other fighters currently gracing the UFC organization. He is still in the prime of his career and has superior patience during a fight. Gane studies his opponent, learning their every move, before unleashing fight-ending punches and kicks.
Gane has fought twice in 2021, most recently defeating Alexander Volkov at UFC Vegas 30 in June. Gane also has victories over names like Tanner Boser and Junior dos Santos.
Lewis vs. Gane: Prediction
This clash between the Black Beast and Bon Gamin has all the ingredients for an entertaining, no-holds-bar fight. Can Gane stand toe-to-toe with the mighty powerful, modern-day Goliath? Can Lewis overcome Gane’s devastating attack if he is unable to score the first or second-round KO?
Lewis takes this fight via second-round KO. It will be the biggest win of his career as he becomes the first to stop Gane – at an important time in his career. Lewis defeated all the odds after serving 3 ½ years in prison on an aggravated assault conviction back in 2005. He was released from prison on August 8, 2008, began training with George Foreman and made his amateur MMA debut in January 2010, going professional three months later.
“I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t go through the stuff I went through in my life,” Lewis told CBS News.
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