Ciryl Gane is an early favorite to capture the UFC interim heavyweight title over Derrick Lewis.
According to an opening betting line released by BetOnline.ag, Gane is listed as a -325 favorite over Lewis, who is a +275 underdog. That means Gane’s implied winning probability is approximately 76 percent, while Lewis’ is approximately 27 percent. A $100 bet on Gane would net almost $31 in profit, while Lewis would net $275.
As always, betting lines and payouts change as bettors wager on fighters.
Gane vs. Lewis was booked to headline UFC 265 on Aug. 7 after undisputed champ Francis Ngannou was not available to face Lewis at the pay-per-view event in Houston. Lewis was named the No. 1 title challenger as ex-champ Jon Jones feuded with the UFC over pay for a title fight with Ngannou.
Lewis, who owns a 2018 win over Ngannou, earned his title shot with four straight wins, including a vicious knockout of Curtis Lewis in February at UFC Vegas 19. He owns the record for most knockouts in UFC heavyweight history with 12.
Gane’s title shot arrived just two days after his eighth win as an MMA pro, a unanimous decision over Alexander Volkov at UFC Vegas 30 that marked his sixth straight octagon win.
UFC 265 is also headlined by a women’s bantamweight title fight between two-division champ Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena.