Michael ‘Venom’ Page Reveals Hidden Message Behind Michael Jackson Song Walkout at UFC London

Michael 'Venom' Page reveals how using Michael Jackson's song was a pointed jab towards the UFC.

Michael ‘Venom’ Page Reveals Hidden Message Behind Michael Jackson Song Walkout at UFC London

Michael Venom Page walks out to Michael Jackson's famous song (via MMA Fighting, X)

In Short
  • Michael 'Venom' Page has faced challenges in the UFC, failing to secure a finish in five fights.
  • His recent walkout song choice, Michael Jackson's "They Don’t Care About Us," reflects his frustrations with UFC management.
  • Page's performance at UFC London against Sam Patterson was criticized for its lack of action, leading to disappointment in his own expectations.

Michael ‘Venom’ Page made his name in Bellator as one of MMA’s most exciting fighters, known for creative and unorthodox striking. His performances earned him international recognition. However, that momentum has not carried into his UFC run, as he has failed to record a finish through five fights. Page has also faced issues with the promotion, recently using his UFC London walkout to jab UFC executives.

Page signed with the UFC in 2024 as a surprise reveal on the UFC 299 card, generating widespread attention from fans. In his debut, he won a unanimous decision over Kevin Holland, but failed to secure a finish. Since then, MVP has only recorded decision victories. His UFC run also includes a loss to Ian Garry at UFC 303, which was his second outing in the promotion, showing challenges against top competition.

After the loss to Garry, Page has been on a three-fight win streak, most recently defeating Sam Patterson at UFC London in a widely criticized bout. His choice of walkout music, They Don’t Care About Us, by Michael Jackson, drew attention. The selection was notable given his ongoing issues with the UFC’s organizational body. MVP recently explained why he chose the song, linking it to his frustrations.

I’ve spoken about being frustrated with the decisions that were made. I think the main one for me was the fact that they put a young kid, who’s super talented, but has only had one fight in the UFC, as a co-main event. I felt disrespected… I’ve delivered some really entertaining fights, given people a lot to talk about, and made a lot of noise… I think the majority of fans were there to see me. That was a bit annoying, so I felt like it was relevant.

Michael ‘Venom’ Page via The Ariel Helwani Show

What drew attention during Page’s three-round bout with Patterson was that UFC CEO Dana White was seen walking out of the arena mid-fight. The fight itself was widely criticized for a lack of action and limited exchanges. After the bout ended, Page directly called out White. He addressed the UFC head boss’s influence over fan perception and the circumstances surrounding his position in the promotion.

Even when the bout against Patterson was announced, MVP suspected someone in the UFC had issues against him. He was matched with an unranked contender with minimal experience, despite his own extensive record of 23 wins and 3 losses accumulated over an almost 15-year MMA career. The pairing highlighted questions about how the promotion assigns matchups to established fighters.

When Michael Jackson released They Don’t Care About Us, he was one of the most famous and culturally influential figures in the world. The song addressed social neglect and systemic injustice, becoming a lasting protest anthem. Its relevance has made it a powerful statement in popular culture, and MVP may have hoped for a similar effect.

Michael ‘Venom’ Page comes clean about his UFC London performance

Michael ‘Venom’ Page became known for his flashy knockouts during his Bellator career, showcasing unorthodox striking and timing. Notable finishes include his spinning back kick over Evangelista Santos in 2018 and his jumping knee knockout of Richard Kiely in 2019. These victories highlighted MVP’s creativity and finishing ability. His unique style made him one of the promotion’s most electrifying attractions.

Michael 'Venom' Page vs Sam Patterson at UFC London
Michael ‘Venom’ Page vs Sam Patterson at UFC London (via MMA Fighting)

Page’s UFC London bout against Sam Patterson fell short of expectations as both fighters engaged cautiously and landed few significant strikes. The duel featured prolonged distance‑management and feints, with neither man pushing forward, resulting in a lackluster pace. Page later weighed in on his win, acknowledging that the performance did not meet his own expectations or reflect the level he aims for.

It wasn’t good enough of a performance from my side. There were things I was met with in the cage that I didn’t think I would be met with. Patterson was a bit more on his back foot, and I actually really wanted to be aggressive in this fight. I was actually getting frustrated, and I think this is the first time someone’s gotten me frustrated in the cage. I was looking at myself and thinking, ‘I need to do way better.’ It wasn’t good enough. Fans have expectations of me, but I’ve got massive expectations of myself, and I didn’t deliver.

Michael ‘Venom’ Page via The Ariel Helwani Show

Michael ‘Venom’ Page’s UFC run has included wins over Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov and Jared Cannonier, both by unanimous decision. He moved up to middleweight to face Magomedov and handed the previously undefeated fighter his first loss and scored a decision over Cannonier at UFC 319. With one fight remaining on his UFC contract, questions about his future in the UFC persist amid ongoing tensions.

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