UFC cage has more ‘grip and traction’ than Bellator, says new signing Michael ‘Venom’ Page

Michael 'Venom' Page, of kickboxing and karate fame, states his love for the UFC's signature Octagon, ahead of debut.

UFC cage has more ‘grip and traction’ than Bellator, says new signing Michael ‘Venom’ Page

The Octagon holds a special value to new signing Michael 'Venom' Page's reason to join (Source: Instagram)

Michael Jerome Reece-Page, popularly known as Michael ‘Venom’ Page is to make his UFC debut soon. Currently at 21-2 MMA, 17-2 BMMA following a 19-fight Bellator stint, he debuts at UFC 299, against Kevin Holland. Michael Page remains a new signing, making his mark at the Kaseya Center (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+). He last fought at Bellator 292, executing a momentous leg-kick finish over Goiti Yamauchi.

Going free agency after that, he later signed on with Dana White and Co. and what they consequently had to offer. With Mike Perry‘s BKFC 56 making $1.3 million, multi-folds of what a UFC fighter makes, fans were worried. This only brought to the forefront the issue of uneven fighter pay that afflicts the UFC. Page met Perry head-on before leaving.

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However, with fans fearing him having struck the minimal pool of fighter pay, Page later clarified the situation. This was in a convo with Ariel Helwani (for MMAFighting on SBN) where he nudged he wouldn’t have joined up without proper incentives. Also adding to prime value, is the quality of fight-platform. Check what Page had to say about it:

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Page told the assembled media scrum at UFC 299’s pre-fight conference that the UFC octagon boasted better grip than Bellator MMA’s. Often considered the consensus knockout artist, the varietal freestyle kickboxer and Karate phenom considers it best for his grip. At the conference, he also let on the trajectory leading to UFC.

Michael ‘Venom’ Page reiterates an unintentional misstep that led to UFC journey

Michael ‘Venom’ Page has shaped up to be an interesting prospect. The debutant makes his mark at UFC 299 this weekend. He recently weighed in on his transition from Bellator MMA to UFC. He even quipped on the new venture having octagons with better traction that fits his kickboxing and no-contact karate methodology; UFC goes 1-0 thus bagging the Englishman.

Michael 'Venom' Page states how his UFC journey came to be
Michael ‘Venom’ Page states how his UFC journey came to be (Source: IMAGO/Twitter)

However, the fighter divulged that it was all a lucky chance that got him settled on this path. Challenging Mike Perry at BKFC 27, he lost the gruesome 6-round bare-knuckle boxing fight at BKFC London. Around this time, UFC came poking.

While Michael Page still yet maintained a healthy association with Bellator MMA, he hinted that this inquiry is what piqued his interest. Speaking of it at UFC 299’s pre-fight conference, he said:

Obviously, the UFC reached out like, ‘Is he a free agent?' We're like, oh, somebody's interested, huh! The conversation remained open...if you know what I mean...
Michael ‘Venom’ Page to journalists at UFC 299 Fight Week pre-fight conference

His sole goal remains now to be a spectacular performance against Kevin Holland this Saturday; a topic he consequently quipped on as well.

If successful, he would expedite his plans to title contention. Keeping his already advanced mettle in mind, UFC already had big names floating like Geoff Neal, Stephen Thompson, and former P4P king Kamaru Usman. Ex-UFC star Josh Thomson and referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy touched on this in the “Weighing In” podcast #392.

He is also gunning for an all-English title affair with Leon Edwards. Safe to say, UFC knows what it is doing, singing on a giant amongst its rank and file.

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