A stacked main card is on deck this coming weekend, with UFC 265: Lewis vs. Gane. The heavyweight matchup between Derrick Lewis and Cyril Gane is a can’t-miss showdown between a veteran and an up-and-comer who both wants to take a big step closer to a title fight. Check out a brief preview of each that plus for four other fights on the main card in UFC 265 below.
The undefeated Gane (9-0-0)is about to face his toughest test yet in his rapidly rising career, as he is scheduled to take on the Black Beast in Lewis. Gane is 2-0 this year, thanks to a pair of unanimous decision wins over Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alexander Volkov. The Frenchman is a well-rounded fighter who can dominate either with his striking or ground game, as evidenced by his three T/KO wins and three submission victories. As for Lewis, all he needs is a clean shot to put Gane away. Lewis (25-7-0) is 4-0 in his last four fights, which includes back-t0-back knockout wins over Aleksei Oleinik and Curtis Blaydes. Of Lewis’ 25 career wins, 20 came via T/KOs.
Writer’s prediction:
Lewis wins via knockout.
Jose Aldo (-125) vs Pedro Munhoz (-105)
Bantamweight
Arguably the best featherweight fighter of all time, Aldo (29-7-0) will look for more success in the bantamweight class when he meets Munhoz (19-5-0) this weekend. Aldo snapped a three-fight losing skid by taking care of business last December in a unanimous decision win over Marlon Vera. He will be a tough test for Munhoz, who has won four of his last six fights. Munhoz is certainly no pushover even for a legend like Aldo. He has never been knocked out nor submitted so far in his pro-MMA career. He also has five T/KO and eight submission victories.
Writer’s prediction:
Jose Aldo wins via decision.
Michael Chiesa (-115) vs Vicente Luque (-115)
Welterweight
The decision to move up to the welterweight division has been paying dividends for Chiesa, who’s undefeated in his last four fights, dating back to 2018. He will enter Saturday’s fight having won all his last three fights via unanimous decision. Chiesa is a gifted grappler with an 11-3 submission record and an 18-4-0 overall record as a pro. Meanwhile, Luque (20-7-1) is on a roll as well. He is 3-0 in his last three fights, two of which came via KOs. Luque’s versatility will be a problem for Chiesa. He has an 11-0 T/KO record and a 7-2 submission slate.
Writer’s prediction:
Luque wins via knockout.
Tecia Torres (-140) vs Angela Hill (+110)
Women’s Strawweight
A lot has changed since Torres (12-5-0) and Hill (13-9-0) last saw each other inside the Octagon. Torres won the first meeting via unanimous decision in 2015 and has won her last two fights after losing all of four previous fights. Hill has won four of her last four fights, including the most recent one, defeating Ashley Yoder via unanimous decision last March.
Writer’s prediction:
Torres wins via stoppage.
Song Yadong (-105) vs Casey Kenney (-125)
Bantamweight
Houston used to be the stomping ground of Yao Ming, but this Saturday, another Chinese star will look to put on a show there, as Song Yadong (16-5-1) takes on Casey Kenney (16-3-1). Yadong is coming off a loss to Kyler Phillips via unanimous decision last March, while Kenney will also look to rebound from a split decision loss at the hands of Dominick Cruz. This should be an intriguing fight given the difference in the styles of the two fights. Yadong likes to land strikes, while Kenney prefers dominating opponents on the ground.
