The Telegraph first reported the news on Wednesday. Page was scheduled to face Derek Anderson in a featured welterweight bout at the Wembley Arena in London on May 19. “Venom” is 12-0 as a professional and 7-0 under the Bellator banner. The flamboyant British striker is coming off a lackluster split decision win over Fernando Gonzalez at Bellator 165 on Nov. 19.
A replacement opponent for Anderson will not be found and as a result, a welterweight clash pitting Dan Edwards against Alex Lohore has been elevated to the four-bout main card. Meanwhile, a light heavyweight tilt between Liam McGeary and Linton Vassell will now serve as the evening’s co-main event. Bellator 179 is headlined by a welterweight showdown between Rory MacDonald and Paul Daley and airs on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
“I’ve fought through stuff my whole career and it would take a whole lot for me to pull out of a fight this close to it happening,” Anderson told The Telegraph. “This is how I make my living, so even longer of a layoff does me no good. When he gets rebooked, it better be against me and I want it to happen as soon as possible.”