UFC 265 is almost here and the excitement for this stacked card is now simmering through the roof. The main event will feature a heavyweight matchup between Derrick Lewis and Cyril Gane for the interim title. The winner of this bout will face the reigning Heavyweight Champion, Francis Ngannou, sometime next year.

Arguably one of the most beloved and entertaining fighters in the UFC, Derrick Lewis will fight in front of his home crowd in Houston, Texas come Saturday night. Perhaps that is why the black beast riled up his followers during his face-off at the press conference.

The face-off between the two went somewhat smoothly, with Dana White making sure both fighters don’t get too close. However, once both fighters turned towards the crowd, Derrick Lewis sneakily snatched the belt from Dana White’s hand before proceeding to put it on display for the fans in attendance. On the other hand, Ciryl Gane was unfazed and unprovoked by his opponent’s aggression and antics on the big stage.

Perhaps, one of the most intriguing heavyweight matchups in recent history. Two completely different fighting styles, one a knockout artist while the other a long-range sniper; this fight is bound to keep everyone glued to the edge of their seats.

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What does the future hold for Derrick Lewis? 

Over the years, Derrick Lewis has solidified himself as one of the top contenders in the UFC’s Heavyweight Division. His brawling fighting style, coupled with thunderous punching power, makes him one of the most dangerous fighters in the division after Francis Ngannou.

Derrick Lewis got his first title shot, back in 2018 against Daniel Cormier at UFC 230. However, the black beast could not make the most of the opportunity, ultimately tapping out to a rear-naked choke in the second round.

Following another loss against Junior dos Santos, Lewis has been on a four-fight win streak and now finds himself one fight away from the title shot.

Should he get past Bon Gamin this weekend, Lewis will face Ngannou in a rematch for the title. A loss would mean the Black Beast will have to go through a few more opponents to get back to this position. Considering his age, Lewis probably has only a few more years left to compete at the highest level. And getting another title shot later might prove to be a daunting task.

What do you think? Where do you see Derrick Lewis in the next year? Let us know in the comments.

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