TLDR
- Michael ‘Venom’ Page moved back to middleweight after struggling to get fights with top welterweights
- Page improved to 5-1 in the UFC with a decision win over Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris
- The 39-year-old has won all five UFC victories by decision, with opponents refusing to engage on the feet
- Robert Whittaker said Page is hard to watch because he point-fights instead of finishing opponents
- Page has fought out his UFC contract and his future with the promotion remains unclear
Sources: ufc.com | mmafighting.com
Michael “Venom” Page has moved back to middleweight after growing frustrated with the welterweight division. The 39-year-old English striker says top contenders at 170 pounds refuse to fight him.
Page defeated Nursulton Ruziboev by decision at UFC Paris on September 5, improving his UFC record to 5-1. However, the win marked the end of his current contract with the promotion.
“I feel like there’s too many people wasting time at welterweight at the moment,” Page said before the fight. “Too many people with entitlement issues – they believe that they should be the next in line, and so they’re gonna wait.”
🇬🇧 😬 It's amazing how poorly the UFC has managed such a valuable asset as Michael Page.
He’s one of the few fighters who can put on a show even without finishing opponents. Page was a local star in Bellator, and his signing could have seriously boosted UK events.
Instead, we… pic.twitter.com/XWjYnpqheF
— Full Mount MMA (@MMAFullMount) March 19, 2026
Pattern of Decision Wins Creates Frustration
Page’s only UFC loss came by decision against Ian Machado Garry. His five wins over Kevin Holland, Shara Magomedov, Jared Cannonier, Sam Patterson, and Ruziboev all went to the judges’ scorecards.
The English fighter explained that opponents become defensive when they face him. “I tend to put people in a very defensive kind of feeling,” he said.
“The stuff that I heard, the stuff that I saw, I thought I was gonna be better than these guys, and he comes in, and he’s doing it to me right now. So the best thing for me to do is survive and not be a highlight reel.”
Page said he wanted to be more aggressive at UFC Paris and force opponents to engage. “I’ve got a point to prove to myself, which means I want to be that much more dangerous, more aggressive, more pushing forward, in his face,” he explained.
Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker shared his thoughts on Page’s fighting style during his MMArcade Podcast. He said watching Page fight is difficult despite respecting his abilities.
Whittaker Questions Page’s Approach
“I didn’t even want to watch it, and I have nothing but respect for ‘MVP,'” Whittaker said about the UFC Paris performance. “His ability to do what he does at his age is crazy.”
Whittaker compared Page’s style to point-sparring. “I reckon there isn’t a single person that can beat MVP over point-sparring in the UFC,” he said.
The Australian fighter suggested Page calculates exactly how much work he needs to win rounds. “I feel like it’s almost like he has a live feed of the judges’ scorecards, like, in real time,” Whittaker explained.
Whittaker also defended Page’s approach from a financial perspective. “As a fighter, and knowing that you get paid more if you win, it’s that tricky balance,” he said.
Page has been removed from UFC rankings eligibility following UFC Paris. The removal typically indicates a fighter is no longer under contract with the promotion.
Page responded to criticism after his latest fight, promising to “do better” in future performances. During his 14-year career, he built a highlight reel of spectacular knockouts during his time with Bellator.
The veteran fighter said he still feels young mentally and physically. “I do work hard, and I feel like, even just my mentality, I still feel young,” Page explained.
Page’s UFC run included a victory over Shara Magomedov, making him the only fighter to defeat “Bullet.” He also earned a decision win over former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier in August 2025.
Page has not announced his next move following the expiration of his UFC contract.
