Michael ‘Venom’ Page is taking it all in stride, even after speaking out about his frustrations with the UFC.
He didn’t hold back about his disappointment over not receiving welterweight opportunities, especially after a short but successful run at middleweight.
The Brit had been clear from the start that his move to 185 pounds was just a way to keep busy and chase interesting fights.
Even though he finally got the chance to return to 170, Page isn’t thrilled about being matched up with Sam Patterson at UFC London next month.
Page feels that his relationship with the organisation has shifted, but he’s still holding on to hope that things could improve down the line.
Michael ‘Venom’ Page still believes he can get back on track with UFC despite his complaints
When Michael ‘Venom’ Page made the switch to the UFC in 2023, he was clear about what he wanted from the start.
He already had a solid background from his time in Bellator and was hoping to jump straight into matchups against some of the sport’s top names.
Speaking recently with Bloody Elbow ahead of Total Kombat’s (his all-striking promotion) event on February 28 in Liverpool, England, Page discussed how things have evolved since then.
Page said that over time, his relationship with the UFC has definitely shifted. After facing Kevin Holland and Ian Machado Garry early on, he moved up to middleweight for two wins as part of an effort to stay busy and find exciting fights.
While he’s still looking for his first finish inside the Octagon, his striking resume is impressive. He remains optimistic that a strong showing on March 21 could help realign him with the promotion’s direction.
“It definitely felt like yeah, we were aligned, it’s going in the right direction, big names, big fights,” Page said. “Just more recently it hasn’t gone in that direction. But I feel like things do that. It’s always swings and roundabouts.”
“Things go up and down; nothing’s linear. You have to roll with the punches. This is where it’s at at the moment. It could go from this to a massive fight or the next couple fights being massive, and I’ve just got to keep focused on my own goals.”
Michael ‘Venom’ Page feels UFC London fight with Sam Patterson comes at the wrong moment
Michael ‘Venom’ Page believes that even without speaking out, it’s clear to many that he’s not currently in favour with the UFC. But he was open about why this particular matchup isn’t what he was looking for, pointing to the lack of name value, what a win would mean for him, and his position on the UFC London card.
Having trained with Patterson across several camps, Page is well aware of his abilities and knows how tough the fight could be. He admitted that after a long wait and repeatedly sending lists of potential opponents to the promotion, he’d grown tired enough to accept just about any offer — even if it meant fighting someone whose career he respects and has supported.
“It’s weird because it’s an exciting fight in terms of style,” Page told Bloody Elbow. “Sam Patterson is an amazing up-and-coming athlete in the mixed martial arts world, it’s just not exciting in terms of names because I just feel like it’s mistimed. It’s way too early.”
“I feel like he will get to that place and people are definitely going to hear more and more about him as his career goes on cuz he’s super talented,” Page said. “I just feel like it’s not the correct time.”
Patterson is coming off a first-round submission win over Yohan Lainesse last November — a result that followed back-to-back losses by knockout in 2023. The matchup presents an interesting test for both men at different stages of their careers.
The 36-year-old Page has been around long enough to know how quickly things can change in this sport. Even though things aren’t where he wants them right now, another strong performance could get things moving in a better direction.
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