Michael “Venom” Page is one of the most entertaining fighters in the UFC … so it’s strange that the promotion rarely seems to have any kinds of plans for his future.
Page has been bouncing back and forth between welterweight and middleweight, largely due to the fact that no one at 170 ever seems available for him to fight. His last fight was an August 2025 win over Jared Cannonier at 185, and now it sounds like he’ll be waiting until the UFC returns to London in March before he steps into the cage again.
“My likely next fight is going to be … the 21st of March,” Page told the Shxts ‘n’ Gigs podcast (via MMA Junkie). “I’m a big name over here, they want me to fight, but they still haven’t got any opponent. ‘So yeah, you’re definitely going to fight in March, but we’re trying to find you an opponent.’”
It’s nice to know that the UFC is finally fighting Page in the U.K. after two years. That implies they recognize his value and are putting some effort into growing his name. But he still seems like an afterthought when it comes to matchmaking. No one wants to fight him, which is understandable given his unique style. But that never stopped the UFC from making fights happen when they really want them to.
“I was like, ‘OK, give me a welterweight fight.’ Nobody’s available,” he recalled. “‘OK, give me another middleweight fight.’ They gave me another middleweight fight. Cool. ‘Give me a welterweight fight.’ Nobody’s available. How can nobody be available? This is literally what I’m getting messaged back.”
“There was a fight the other day, quite a few welterweights were performing,” Page said. “One just won a fight spectacularly. I messaged [UFC], ‘That’s a great fight for me in London.’ ‘Oh, we’ve got plans for him.’ The guy just stepped out of the cage. I’m all ready for months and you don’t have plans for me, but you have plans for him? Something’s going on.”
UFC Fight Night 271 goes down March 21st from the O2 Arena in London, England and is headlined by top ranked featherweights Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev. That’s a solid main event, one where the winner should get a title shot. It will be interesting to see where “Venom” ends up on the card. Co-main? Further down? It would certainly tell us a lot about how the promotion values their “MVP.”
Why tf doesnt he fight wonderboy? Theyre both older fighters with flashy crowd pleasing striking styles.
I would watch but could see that being a staring contest with both just bouncing back-and-forth 5 feet away from each other.
That would most likely be the most boring standup match since Woodley vs Wonderboy
Ah, i see he addressed this
I mean if youre complaining you cant get a fight…
His age is probably hindering what fights the UFC wants to give him. They aren’t matching him up against Morales, Prates, and Brady. Already lost to Garry. That leaves him with some pretty boring match ups with Bellal, Edwards, and Wonderboy. And Usman is for whatever reason being talked about as being next in line versus Islam.
There’s no one I want to see flatlined more than MVP.
Wonderboy is a 42yo dad whose hasn’t been competite since his first child was born.
I like MVP but do I really enjoy his fights? Ehh .. I find him to be a frustrating fighter to watch because if the fight stays on the feet, his opt is not able to pose much of a threat and MVP will throw an occasional right nuke but if he lands hard he never follows up for the finish!
It will take the right opponent to make it interesting .. a guy like Buckley might be fun .. Shavkat?
Morales/MVP is a very interesting fight ..
Current WB gets smashed by MVP..