Michael ‘Venom’ Page vs. Shinsho Anzai tops new additions to Bellator Japan
The fantastic Bellator Japan postlims continue to add bouts, and it’s becoming quite the event in and of itself. The always-flashy Michael Page (16-1) faces the Japanese “Animal,” Shinsho Anzai (11-3) at 173-pounds as Yusaku Nakamura (16-6-1) faces 19-year-old prospect Makoto Takahashi (9-1-1) of DEEP fame.
Whether you love him or hate him, Michael “Venom” Page is used to having the spotlight on him throughout his combat sports journey. One of the flashiest, most unorthodox strikers in the game, Page has managed to put together quite a resume for himself since joining Bellator MMA in 2014.
Knocking out the likes of Ricky Rainey, Evangelista Santos, Richard Kiely, and Gianni Melillo, Page’s highlight-reel is unlike most others. And that’s not even taking into account his insane regional finishes dating back to pre-Bellator. Along with an MMA career with Bellator, the Englishman is a professional boxer under David Haye’s Hayemaker Promotions. Prior to the sole loss of his career when he took on Douglas Lima earlier this year, Page picked up three-straight wins over his best competition to date in the form of Fernando Gonzalez, David Rickels, and Paul Daley.
Team Grind’s hard-nosed wrestler Shinsho Anzai made his DEEP debut a few months back following a four year UFC run. His promotional debut was a success as he out-muscled and out-worked a local legend in the form of Yoichiro Sato. Prior to his 2-2 UFC run, Anzai was a King of Pancrase after knocking out future Hall of Famer; Ryo Kawamura. Now he faces one of Bellator’s biggest stars in Michael “Venom” Page.
A veteran of RIZIN Fighting Federation, Yusaku Nakamura successfully rebounded from a three-fight losing streak that included a kickboxing loss to Tenshin Nasukawa by returning in 2019 and going 2-0 in the calendar year thus far. The former DEEP and WSOF Global title-holder debuted in Shooto back in March and knocked out a Guam title-holder in Rodney Mondala.
Two months later, Nakamura returned to RIZIN and defeated Topnoi Tiger Muay Thai despite losing multiple teeth in the process.
The current interim DEEP flyweight champion, Makoto “Shinryu” Takahashi is an exceptionally prospect at just 19-years-old. Since a 2018 loss to the veteran Tatsumitsu Wada, the young Paraestra Matsudo rep has defeated Haruki Nakayama, Chikara Shimabukuro, and Yuya Shibata.
Bellator Japan goes down on December 29, live from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan.