“Venom” will spew on the Ultimate Fighting Championship canvas when Michael Page makes his eagerly awaited promotional debut at UFC 299 this Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The organization’s mastery of matchmaking proved to be square on the mark, pairing Page against a fellow pursuer and provider of electrifying showdowns Kevin Holland.
As Page gears up for a trial by fire, a look at five of the many moments that have helped craft him into an MMA star:
1. Birth of a Kickboxing Prodigy
Under the guidance of his father, Curtis Page Sr., and alongside his kickboxing-trained siblings, Page commenced his multi-sport combat journey. By the age of 5, he was already competing in tournaments, and by 8, he had ventured into his first international tournament in Germany. His dominance shined through on the international stage, with an impressive tally of 10 world championships and over 25 British titles to his name. The crowning glory of his success includes multi WKA and WAKO world championships, as well as a silver medal in the semi-contact category at the inaugural World Combat Games in 2010. Recounting all of his kickboxing feats might be an arduous undertaking, but the aforementioned credentials offer a mere glimpse into the breadth of accolades he possesses.
2. Skull Crusher
“Venom” made his foray into professional MMA in February 2012 and rattled six straight first-round victories in as many fights. While he persisted in delivering breathtaking finishes that left spectators in awe, it was his victory over Evangelista Santos at Bellator 158 that boosted his star value to a whole new dimension of acclaim. Page employed his low-guard mastery, phantom footwork technique and glide-and-counter method for the majority of the first round, pacing for the opportune moment to wrap up the bout. Santos managed to take him down towards the end of the first frame, disguising a takedown under the striking onslaught. Unbeknownst to him, Page acquired the insight he sought. During one such sequence in the second round when Santos rushed for offense, Page blasted him with a flying knee that resulted in a graphic frontal sinus fracture. The Brazilian had to be hospitalized, underwent surgery and announced his retirement in January 2017.
3. The Battle of the Big Smoke
At Bellator 216, against fellow London star Paul Daley, Page proved he had what it takes to outlast opponents in a five-round contest, showing versatility beyond relying solely on explosive finishes. The Bellator welterweight world grand prix quarterfinal showcased the Englishman’s systematic striking approach despite Daley’s dominance on the grappling front. Page’s elusive style and calculated strikes yielded results, ultimately securing his spot in the next phase of the tournament by unanimous decision.
4. Rebounding from Adversity
“Venom” succumbed to his first career loss against Douglas Lima at Bellator 221 via knockout in the semifinal leg of the aforementioned grand prix. He returned to action at Bellator 227 against Richard Kiely. His lure-and-evade strategy was on full display, stifling his opponent with low-handed darting punches and leg kicks. When the opportunity presented itself, he landed a perfect flying knee and clocked a knockout victory at 2:42 of the first round.
5. Final Stretch into a New Frontier
At Bellator 292, in what would be his last fight under the Bellator banner, Page unleashed another jaw-dropping performance, supplementing his collection of highlight-reel classics. Page dispatched Goiti Yamauchi with a devastating leg kick that left the opponent writhing in agony on the canvas just 26 seconds into the bout. The victory also signified Page’s second comeback win after a loss, as it followed the second setback of his MMA journey against Logan Storley at Bellator 281.