UFC 265
| Company type | Event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mixed martial arts |
| Founded | August 7, 2021 |
| Headquarters | Houston , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
UFC 265: Lewis vs. Gane was a mixed martial arts competition organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on August 7, 2021, at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Background
The main event featured an interim UFC Heavyweight Championship clash between former contender Derrick Lewis and Ciryl Gane. This interim championship bout was arranged after the reigning titleholder Francis Ngannou reportedly declined to defend his belt in August, despite indicating availability for a September defense.
A highly awaited women's bantamweight championship fight between reigning titleholder Amanda Nunes, who also holds the featherweight crown, and challenger Julianna Peña was planned but ultimately canceled following Nunes' positive COVID-19 test; this matchup was later rescheduled for UFC 269.
Among other key fights was a bantamweight contest between Johnny Muñoz Jr. and Jamey Simmons, which had been postponed from UFC 261 due to Simmons withdrawing. Additionally, a middleweight bout featuring Uriah Hall versus Sean Strickland was shifted to headline the preceding UFC Fight Night event.
The card also included a women's strawweight rematch between Tecia Torres and former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion Angela Hill. Their first encounter took place at UFC 188 in 2015, where Torres secured a unanimous decision victory. The rematch experienced delays after Hill tested positive for COVID-19 in late 2020.
A bantamweight fight between Miles Johns and Anderson dos Santos occurred after being deferred from UFC on ESPN: Makhachev vs. Moisés due to COVID-19 safety protocols impacting dos Santos' team.
During the weigh-ins, former Rizin Bantamweight Champion Manel Kape exceeded the flyweight non-title limit by three pounds; his bout proceeded at catchweight with a 20% fine of his purse awarded to opponent Ode' Osbourne.
Bonus awards
The following competitors were granted $50,000 bonuses:
- Fight of the Night: Rafael Fiziev vs. Bobby Green
- Performance of the Night: Ciryl Gane, Vicente Luque, Jessica Penne, and Miles Johns