Rivalries: Michael Page

Championship gold has thus far eluded one of Bellator MMA’s most recognizable stars—a fact Michael Page hopes to soon change.

“MVP” will challenge four-time NCAA All-American Logan Storley for the interim welterweight crown in the Bellator 281 headliner on Friday at The SSE Arena in London. Incumbent champion Yaroslav Amosov put his career on hold due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Page enters the cage with the wind of a six-fight winning streak in his sails. The 35-year-old London Shootfighters rep has delivered 15 of his 20 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission, establishing himself as one of the most dynamic offensive fighters in the sport.

In advance of Page’s forthcoming showdown with Storley at 170 pounds, a look at some of the rivalries that have helped shape his career to this point:

Nah-Shon Burrell

Page passed what many viewed as his first true test and remained undefeated with a unanimous decision over the Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran in the Bellator 128 co-main event on Oct. 10, 2014 at the Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma. All three judges scored it 30-27. Burrell relied almost exclusively on clinches, much to the chagrin of those in attendance. His bid to frustrate Page did not bear fruit. Forced to go the distance for the first time in his career, the charismatic Englishman landed the more effective strikes throughout the 15-minute bout and also mixed in a second-round takedown. Burrell ducked a spinning kick and executed a takedown of his own late in Round 3 but did no damage from top position. Page returned to his feet without much resistance, bled the remaining time off the click and waited for the judiciary to render its verdict.

Evangelista Santos

It went down as one of the greatest—and most devastating—single strikes in mixed martial arts history, as Page knocked out “Cyborg” with a spectacular flying knee in the second round of their Bellator 158 welterweight showcase on July 16, 2016 at the O2 Arena in London. The end came 4:31 into Round 2. After a fast start, the two men engaged one another at close range and on the ground—Santos pressed the clinch in a bid for takedowns—to tie a bow the first round, giving no inclination of what was to come. In the middle stanza, Page doubled over “Cyborg” with a body kick, gave chase and cut down the Brazilian with an exquisitely placed knee strike to the forehead. No follow-up shots were necessary on the fallen Santos, who hit the canvas in obvious agony, his face buried in his hands. It was later revealed that the impact of the blow fractured his skull.

David Rickels

Anticipation gave way to harsh reality when Page struck “The Caveman” into submission in the second round of their Bellator 200 co-main event and bolstered his often-criticized strength of schedule on May 25, 2018 at The SSE Arena in London. Rickels bowed out 43 seconds into Round 2, suffering his first setback in more than two years. Page picked apart the Janjira Muay Thai product through much of the first five minutes, whipping the crowd into a frenzy with his skills and showboating. In the second round, the British karateka split open Rickels’ left eye with a clean right cross. Blood flowed from the wound, and soon after, the Kansas native indicated he did not wish to continue. Referee Rob Hinds granted his wish.

Paul Daley

Page advanced to the semifinals of the Bellator MMA welterweight grand prix with a unanimous decision over “Semtex” in the Bellator 216 headliner on Feb. 16, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. All three judges struck 48-47 scorecards. After an uneventful first five minutes, Daley turned to takedowns and enjoyed success with the tactic. He grounded Page in the second, third, fourth and fifth rounds but did not do enough with advantageous positions. Daley appeared to hit a wall once it became clear he could not crack his adversary’s resolve. Page stunned him with a flying knee in the fourth round, landed a takedown of his own and applied his ground-and-pound. He then scrambled to Daley’s back in the fifth, threaded one hook and threatened briefly with a rear-naked choke. Page in the waning seconds countered a last-ditch takedown attempt from the former Cage Rage champion, assumed top position and coasted to the finish line.

Douglas Lima

The Atlanta-based Brazilian knocked out the previously unbeaten Page to advance to the Bellator MMA welterweight grand prix final in the Bellator 221 co-feature on May 11, 2019 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. Lima carried out the figurative execution 35 seconds into Round 2. A relatively tepid first round gave way to a brief but chaotic second. Page buzzed his counterpart’s tower with a glancing right hand to the temple that shook his equilibrium and had him on the retreat. However, in his haste to force a stoppage, he approached Lima with his guard down. The two-time welterweight champion swept Page off of his feet with a leg kick, then cracked him with a sweeping uppercut while he was attempting to stand. The impact froze the Brit and left him defenseless against the follow-up hammerfists Lima threw next. It remains the only blemish on Page’s resume. The two men met for a second time two-plus years later at Bellator 267, where “MVP” eked out a contentious split decision over Lima across three rounds.