UFC 265: Derrick Lewis vs. Ciryl Gane First Look: Odds, Betting Picks and Predictions

The UFC returns to Houston with a wholly stacked fight card. Heavyweight fan favourites will steal the show on UFC’s 265 pay-per-view. Read on for our complete betting guide taking a first look at Derrick Lewis versus Ciryl Gane. They will headline the UFC 265 fight card with the winner earning the interim heavyweight title and a guaranteed matchup versus Francis Ngannou; read on for the updated odds and our free expert betting predictions.

Derrick Lewis vs. Ciryl Gane

UFC Heavyweight Main Event Interim Title Bout

Saturday, August 7, 2021 at the Toyota Center

Derrick Lewis (25-7-0)

A professional career spanning back 11 years, Lewis has fought 33 times and knocked out 20 opponents of his 25 successes. He owns the most knockouts in UFC Heavyweight history (12) and is also boosting seven performance/fight of the night bonuses.

Since his UFC debut back in 2013, Lewis quickly earned the respect of MMA fans and critics alike with his devastating knockout power. There haven’t been many men who’ve been able to absorb the sheer velocity of Lewis’ striking output, so it's safe to say that Ciryl Gane will want to keep his distance.

So, why are the best sportsbooks so confident, with such a juiced available betting line on Gane? I think it's based on Gane’s ability to strike at a distance and avoid slugging it out inside the pocket. With that said, Gane won’t avoid Lewis’ fist for 25 minutes, which makes the underdog in Lewis all the more intriguing.

https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1408500490543845379?s=20

Derrick Lewis MMA Accomplishments

UFC Performance of the Night (Four times)UFC Fight of the Night (Three times)Most knockouts in UFC Heavyweight History (12)Legacy FC Heavyweight Champion (One time, one defense)

Derrick Lewis Best Available Odds: (visit our Sportsbook Review)

Derrick Lewis. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP

Ciryl Gane (9-0-0)

The matchup taking place at UFC 265 is an intriguing one. One of the division’s heaviest hitters in Lewis is welcoming an undefeated technical striker, Ciryl Gane, into his home territory.

Gane (9-0) began his martial arts career competing in muay thai, his 13-0 record complements his undefeated martial arts record for a total of twenty-two fights where the Frenchman has kept an unblemished record.

With nine (T)KO’s during his muay thai career and 6 finishes in his MMA career, Gane is quite the finisher himself – only reaching the judge's scorecard on seven occasions. It should be noted, Gane has barely lost a round during his professional fighting career, let alone an entire fight. A highly technical striking skillset is being assisted with a constantly evolving Brazilian jiu-jitsu ground game.

Ciryl Gane MMA Accomplishments

UFC Performance of the Night (One time)TKO Heavyweight Champion (One time, two defenses)Academie Francaise de Muay Thai AFMT 201lb National Champion (One time, one defense)

Ciryl Gane Best Available Odds:

Ciryl Gane. (Photo by SEYLLOU / AFP)

How Can Gane Win?

Almost every opponent facing Derrick Lewis remains hesitant on the outside, but we could witness Gane find some great success in this position. Gane has shown some tendencies to lunge in the pocket on occasions with his head dipped, a bad attribute he will want to avoid when faced with the fight-ending power of Lewis.

By taking a comfortable position on the outside, Gane can score points all day long, utilizing his muay thai style of striking with long-ranged attacks and evades.

A grappling offence would also favour the Frenchman, should he be able to land a takedown on Lewis; we’ve witnessed the Texan native struggle in this position on more than one occasion.

Finding space and controlling it is critical for Gane, and the good news is, he owns some of the best movement inside the heavyweight division. Similar to the Rozenstruik contest, he’ll want to hold the outside position and let off his offense with the assistance of a large octagon.

Ciryl Gane. (Photo by SEYLLOU / AFP)

How Can Lewis Win?

It doesn’t take a mastermind to understand the style that best suites The Black Beast, brute power has assisted the majority of his fighting career. With that said, Lewis has hidden explosiveness that can burst out of nowhere.

Lewis will want to scare Gane up against the cage with forwarding pressure; should he find an opportunity to corner Gane, he could be in the perfect position to land his right hand.

Derrick Lewis. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP

Gane vs. Lewis Betting Odds Advice

The betting sites' current odds are heavily favouring Gane, and it's hazardous when fading the knockout power of Lewis across twenty-five minutes. Gane could win four rounds, allow Lewis to close him in and suffer a fifth round knockout.

However, while I believe Gane is the superior martial artist, Lewis will have the hometown advantage. Still, I don’t think it’ll be enough to outsmart the technical striking ability of Ciryl Gane.

UFC 265 Betting Prediction: (Odds TBD)

UFC 265 Alternative Betting Prediction:

UFC 265 MAIN CARD

Derrick Lewis vs. Ciryl Gane(UFC heavyweight main event interim title bout)Jose Aldo vs. Pedro Munhoz(UFC bantamweight co-main event bout)Vincente Luque vs. Michael Chiesa(UFC welterweight bout)Tecia Torres vs. Angela Hill(UFC women’s strawweight bout)Yadong Song vs. Casey Kenney(UFC bantamweight bout)

*The pick reflects the line now the writer made the play, the odds at the beginning of this article show the live line movement. Since the lines might vary, do not forget to refer to our live odds.