Michael ‘Venom’ Page showed he is UFC-ready and high caliber in his octagon debut at UFC 299. Just like that, he found himself in the top 15 billings of official welterweight rankings. A pivotal bout takes shape between Ian Machado Garry and Page at UFC 303. Ahead of this, the 37-year-old hedges his bets ahead. Consequently, he has top dogs Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards in mind for it.
Even before he was a UFC welterweight entrant. top analysts floated big names for the former Bellator title challenger. In the Weighing In Podcast #392, ex-UFC star Josh Thomson and referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy inked names like Geoff Neal, Stephen Thompson, and even Usman. Leon Edwards was also a target for Page other than former P4P King Kamaru Usman. Now, ‘MVP’ doubles down on those dreams.
100%, that’s the dream scenario… [MVP vs. Leon Edwards for welterweight title]…Uh, I believe there’ll be one more fight in between…If I want to bring it back to UK, there will more likely be one more fight. And they [UFC] usually do a show in March or something. So, if I can get one more fight by the end of the year, that’ll be perfect…Finish Ian, maybe ask for like Usman…
Michael ‘Venom’ Page via Smack Talk with Sandhu
After campaigning hard to get Colby Covington on International Fight Week, Ian Garry opened himself up to working through others. He concurrently drew Page from the mix. Michael Page (22-2 MMA and 17-2 Bellator; 1-0 UFC) will have a massive test ahead with a size discrepancy and various skills. If Page can get through Garry, he opens up for title-shot debates.
Subsequently, the Team London Shootfighters MMA striker has wanted to fight Edwards before as. Speaking to MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, he dreamt of an untold story in an All-English affair against the champ. If he still has the belt, ‘Venom’ is up for that after UFC 303. ‘Rocky’ fights a card later at UFC 304: Edwards vs Muhammad 2, Live from Co-Op Live, Manchester (July).
Michael ‘Venom’ Page expects at least one more fight leading to a title shot
As a part of the UFC 299 main card at Kaseya Center in Miami, Page made waves in his debut outing. The Englishman outstruck Kevin Holland en route to a unanimous score of 29-28 on the judges’ scorecards. Now, he goes on to fight Irishman Ian Garry next at UFC 303.
Michael ‘Venom’ Page adds Kamaru Usman to UFC bucket list to title shot (Source: boxemag.com/X)MVP and the Irishman from Team Chute Boxe open up the main card of UFC 303. Garry, 26, is resolute enough in his skillset to dictate new terms of the matchup. He is now pushing for their scrap to be a five-round feature co-main event. Whether it is so or not, it could have a huge impact on the state of the title picture.
Garry remains a step closer. Currently No. 13 in the UFC’s ranking system, Michael ‘Venom’ Page could find himself nearer to Leon Edwards’ undisputed gold after this match. If so, he expects to fight Kamaru Usman, should the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ accept.
He’s [Usman] No.1 ranked…Again, like I said…there’s no point wasting time. Let’s jump up, Let’s go. If he’s, you know, happy to go, we go. Make that win…And there’s no debate after that…
Michael ‘Venom’ Page via Smack Talk with Sandhu
MVP hopes to fight at least once more this year should he win against Garry. The ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ would be a big step up in the game. Big enough to earn a title shot with Edwards right after. While ‘Rocky’ has double-division glory at middleweight in mind, he believes he still has work left at 170. He isn’t also opposed to MVP. As such, the duo can deliver a stylistic matchup. It’s all eyes on ‘The Future’ now.
