3 storylines to watch at UFC 265

Derrick Lewis and Ciryl Gane will face off in the UFC 265 main event for the interim heavyweight title at Toyota Center in Houston.

Here are three key storylines heading into Saturday's pay-per-view card.

Who's the more intriguing challenge for Ngannou: Lewis or Gane?

Barring any unforeseen circumstances - or the UFC finally coming to terms with Jon Jones - the winner of Saturday's main event will challenge Francis Ngannou for the undisputed heavyweight title.

Which fighter should fans want to see standing across from Ngannou in the Octagon either later this year or in 2022? And would Lewis or Gane be the bigger threat to Ngannou's throne?

Lewis has already beaten Ngannou once before during their incredibly underwhelming 2018 bout, so it may seem obvious to lean in that direction. Plus, "The Black Beast" possesses ridiculous power that can change the momentum of a fight in a heartbeat. Gane isn't really known for his knockouts, while Lewis will be gunning for the most in company history this weekend.

However, the fight between Lewis and Ngannou was somewhat of an anomaly. Though it was seemingly guaranteed to produce a highlight-reel knockout, the clash resembled a staring contest more so than a cage fight. Neither Ngannou nor Lewis have been involved in a fight nearly as boring, and they've combined for eight knockouts out of 10 wins since then. So, with that in mind, it's tough to draw any long-term conclusions from Lewis-Ngannou 1 and make the connection to a potential rematch.

That leaves us with Gane, who would be a bigger test for Ngannou. "Bon Gamin" matches the champion in height and reach, and his frame is built very similarly. The physical advantages Ngannou holds over most of his foes would be nonexistent against Gane, except for maybe overall strength.

Gane is also a much more technical striker than Lewis, and one of the division's best. He has many more tools than Lewis in the stand-up department, from his sharp jab to a variety of kicks.

It's not unreasonable to think he could pick his former training partner apart, while Lewis would likely need a knockout to beat the current version of Ngannou. That's why Gane would be the tougher challenge for "The Predator."

Does Aldo have one last title run in him?

At the age of 34 and 10 years into his UFC career, Jose Aldo has a chance to re-emerge as a title contender.

The former featherweight champion and current No. 5-ranked bantamweight will face Pedro Munhoz during a key 135-pound matchup in Saturday's co-main event.

Aldo hit a slump during 2019 and into 2020 after going on a hot streak, losing three straight fights to top competition, including current featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, and Petr Yan in a bantamweight title bout.

But Aldo bounced back with a crafty decision win over Marlon Vera during his most recent matchup last December.

Now the Brazilian legend can prove himself against Munhoz, the No. 9-ranked bantamweight. Aldo can show he still belongs among the UFC's top contenders, and the veteran could even potentially work his way back up to earn another title shot.

UFC gold on the minds of Chiesa, Luque

Michael Chiesa and Vicente Luque will be thinking about a title shot heading into their welterweight clash at UFC 265.

Chiesa-Luque is the other marquee bout on Saturday's pay-per-view card, and it's an important one for the division. Chiesa is ranked No. 5 while Luque is No. 6, and they're both gunning for the top.

Chiesa and Luque are riding four- and three-fight winning streaks, respectively. Neither man is quite in title contention yet, with Colby Covington next in line to face welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, and Leon Edwards also ahead of both of them in the pecking order. But that could change after this weekend.

Both welterweights have been moving up the 170-pound ladder consistently this past year, and the fight between them will determine who's ready to make a legitimate run at the belt.