HOUSTON – Derrick Lewis respects Ciryl Gane, but he might not necessarily be a big fan of his style.
Lewis, a former UFC heavyweight title challenger, is gearing up to fight once again for a title, but this time of the interim variety. Lewis (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) takes on Gane (9-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in a championship bout that headlines Saturday’s UFC 265 at Toyota Center.
Lewis finds the Frenchman to be an honorable foe, but that doesn’t mean he likes the way he fights.
“It’s not really (that I don’t) have cardio for five rounds, (it won’t) be exciting for five rounds because he is a boring fighter,” Lewis told MMA Junkie at the UFC 265 media day on Wednesday. “He likes to sit back and do a lot of leg kicks and stuff like that, but I really want to have an exciting fight here in my hometown. Win, lose or draw, I want it to be an exciting fighter.
“He’s technical, and that’s good for him. I guess he’s a good fighter, you know. I don’t really keep track of him. I don’t keep up with his career, but that’s good for him.”
Lewis is a fan favorite fighter anywhere he goes, but he’s expected to get a big pop fighting in his hometown of Houston. Lewis, who holds the record for most knockouts in UFC heavyweight history, is excited to be the local guy and expects fan support to motivate him at UFC 265.
“With the way I fight, I believe so because I fight straight out of emotion whenever I’m in there,” Lewis said. “So I believe it will help me out a lot.”
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Derrick Lewis on Ciryl Gane before UFC 265: ‘Technical’ but a ‘boring fighter’
