UFC 265 rundown: Gane could give Ngannou some problems

Ciryl Gane captured the interim heavyweight title with a third-round TKO of Derrick Lewis in the main event of UFC 265 on Saturday in Houston.

Here are four takeaways from the pay-per-view card.

Gane could threaten Ngannou's reign

When Francis Ngannou took the heavyweight title from Stipe Miocic with a vicious knockout win in March, many deemed Ngannou, in his current form, unbeatable.

He was more poised on the feet than earlier in his UFC career, just as dangerous, and he'd significantly improved his takedown defense - bad news for the rest of the division.

But the man who showed up Saturday and dominated Lewis in his opponent's adopted hometown could very well be the biggest threat to Ngannou's championship belt - and he might just have what it takes to dethrone him.

Ngannou has yet to face someone like Gane, and frankly, there hasn't been a heavyweight like "Bon Gamin" before. Incredibly light on his feet for heavyweight standards and boasting accurate striking and impressive movement, Gane is one of the only fighters who could go toe-to-toe with Ngannou on the feet, potentially outstrike him with volume, and avoid the champ's knockout blows.

Ngannou should still be favored over Gane. As dominant as the new interim champ was against Lewis, we can't forget how impressive "The Predator" was in his title win over Miocic.

But it's fair to say Gane has emerged as Ngannou's biggest challenge, and that he could give the champion a run for his money when they meet in a title-unification bout in the near future.

Aldo impresses at 135 pounds

Jose Aldo is the gift that keeps on giving.

The legendary former featherweight champion and current bantamweight contender extended his winning streak to two with a decision victory over Pedro Munhoz in the evening's co-main event.

While his best days are behind him, and he may be unable to hang with the Aljamain Sterlings and Petr Yans of the 135-pound division, the 34-year-old made it clear against Munhoz that he's still a top fighter.

Aldo's hand speed, reaction time, and fight IQ all held up well versus Munhoz, who entered as the No. 9-ranked bantamweight. His combinations in the third round were especially a thing of beauty.

Aldo has surprisingly done well since dropping down in weight two years ago, arguably beating then-top contender Marlon Moraes before losing to Yan in a vacant title fight. After winning two in a row against Marlon Vera and Munhoz, it's time for the Brazilian to get another step up in competition to see if he can make one final title run.

Luque ready to fight for gold

Vicente Luque made a huge statement against Michael Chiesa.

Although Luque prevailing in the all-important welterweight clash wasn't surprising with the bout listed as a pick 'em, the method with which Luque disposed of the skilled grappler was unexpected: a submission.

"The Silent Assassin," who was ranked No. 6 going into the event, took out the No. 5-rated welterweight and used his opportunity on the microphone afterward to call out 170-pound champion Kamaru Usman. Colby Covington is next in line for Usman in November, and Leon Edwards should still be ahead of Luque in the title picture, so Luque is unlikely to get a crack at the belt in his next bout. However, it's seeming more and more likely that opportunity will come his way eventually.

Luque improved his winning streak to four against Chiesa, and most would agree he officially became a title contender with the victory. After Saturday, there's no talking about the top welterweights without mentioning Luque. Long gone are the days of him fighting the Jalin Turners and Chad Laprises of the division. This man is for real, he's one of the most underrated fighters at 170 pounds, and he's coming for that strap.

Pump brakes on Fiziev - just slightly

There's a lot to be excited about with Rafael Fiziev.

The lightweight, widely considered to be a super prospect among hardcore fans, impressed again Saturday in the featured preliminary bout, beating veteran Bobby Green on the scorecards.

Fiziev, whose powerful striking was on display once again against Green, is already a force to be reckoned with. And if he gets a bit more seasoning, the 28-year-old could be a serious contender at 155 pounds.

That said, it'd be wise to pump the brakes on his hype train just a little bit.

Why?

Green's best round was by far the third. He landed many more strikes than Fiziev during those five minutes and landed some big blows with seconds remaining in the fight. Fiziev clearly tired out, and that could be an issue against a higher-ranked opponent or in a five-round bout.

Fiziev has gone the distance in three of his past four contests, so it's tough to say whether his cardiovascular endurance will be a long-term issue. But it's still worth pointing out as a potential weakness in his game, especially considering he faced more adversity against Green than his other recent opponents.

"Ataman" has a lot of potential, don't get me wrong. But until he further develops his skill set, it feels premature to call him a future UFC champion.