Michael “Venom” Page questioned why his fighting style had become a problem in the UFC while other approaches that had also faced criticism from fans continued to thrive. The former UFC fighter made the comparison while discussing the promotion’s decision not to bring him back after his contract ended.
Page believes the criticism comes down to how different styles are viewed. Speaking to Ariel Helwani, he pointed to Dagestani wrestlers as an example of fighters who have built successful UFC careers despite a style that some fans have considered difficult to watch.
“It’s just a stylistic thing, then you could argue some of the, well you know, the Dagestani wrestlers that have come in and kind of taken over for a long time, that was somewhat of a boring aspect of what people were seeing. And yet, you know, those guys get to stay and they’ve stayed,” Page said.
His comments come days after the UFC decided not to re-sign him. Page finished his contract with a unanimous decision win over Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris on September 5, but UFC CEO Dana White later confirmed that the promotion did not plan to offer him another deal. White said the matchmakers decide who stays and who goes and that they did not want to re-sign Page.
Michael Page’s UFC Run Ended Without a Finish
Page arrived in the UFC in 2024 after becoming one of Bellator’s most recognizable fighters. His unusual striking style, long reach and ability to fight from distance helped make him a difficult opponent to read, but his UFC run did not produce the spectacular finishes that had become associated with him earlier in his career.
He beat Kevin Holland in his UFC debut before losing a decision to Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303. Page then picked up wins over Shara Magomedov, Jared Cannonier, Sam Patterson and Ruziboev. All six of his UFC bouts went the distance.
The final performance drew criticism in Paris, with Michael Page landing only 12 significant strikes during the three-round fight. He still left the Octagon with a win and finished his UFC career with a 5-1 record.
Page’s comparison is less about questioning the effectiveness of wrestling and more about how entertainment value is judged. Dagestani fighters have used pressure, takedowns and control to become some of the most successful competitors in MMA, while Page believes his own distance-based approach was judged differently.
With his UFC chapter now closed, Page is a free agent. His next move remains undecided, but his latest comments make it clear that he still has questions about why his particular style became a sticking point.
