Athletes
When Opportunity Knocks, Michael 'Venom' Page Answers
England's Michael 'Venom' Page Is Looking To Take The Fast Track To The Ufc Welterweight Title, Starting With A Victory Over Ian Machado Garry At UFC 303.
Michael "Venom" Page is now fully established as a UFC welterweight threat, and he plans on smartly positioning himself for a shot at the 170-pound title by taking advantage of key opportunities when they present themselves.
"MVP" made an eye-catching Octagon debut at UFC 299, where he defeated Kevin Holland to claim the 14th spot in the UFC's official welterweight rankings. Now he's all set to face Ireland's undefeated contender Ian Machado Garry on Saturday night at UFC 303.
UFC 303 Full Fight Card Preview
It's a matchup that came through circumstance rather than specific planning. But when the UFC's plans for Garry to match Colby Covington fell by the wayside, Page got the call, and now he's ready to take the opportunity to gatecrash the division's elite.
"I think where he's ranked at the moment – number seven, my lucky number – I think a win over Ian Garry just positions me in the top five," Page told UFC.com during a fight-week sit-down interview in Las Vegas.
"And I think when you're within the top five, you're always within reach of a title fight. So I just wanted to position myself there.
"So potentially, I'll have one more fight or... it might be two fighters are supposed to fight (and) somebody drops off. If you're in the top five, you're likely to be selected.
How To Watch And Stream UFC 303: Pereira vs Procházka 2
"(It's) similar to this fight. I wasn't supposed to be taking this fight – it was supposed to be Colby. Colby, for whatever reason, had to drop off, (and) my name is first on the list. So that's what I want to do. Position myself in those places that allow me to get to the title really quick."
The dynamic between the pair via their public utterances has made for interesting reading as fight night has drawn closer. After dismissing Page's chances against Holland, the Dubliner made no secret of his lack of interest in a matchup with the Londoner. It's a line he has steadfastly stuck to, even after the bout was booked and confirmed for UFC 303 this weekend.
"I think he's just being unsure," Page suggested.
"When I say being unsure, when he first started to get a career, I was already very established, gone viral multiple times – it's stuff that he would have seen.
"And there's always the bogeyman in the back of your head. I'm sure he's confident in himself, but that bogeyman in the back of your head is like, 'Man! What if he does that to you?'
"So I think that guy is telling him, 'Let's not draw too much attention. Let's not make too much noise, just in case,' because of the potential aftermath. 'If I keep it a little bit quiet, at least I can say I was humble.'
"He's trying to belittle me, which I also think is a bit of an avoidant attitude, as well. The same thing – trying to just make this occasion small, just in case the result he doesn't want to happen happens. So I think that's what I'm seeing, that's what I'm getting from him."
The simmering tension between the pair will come to a head on Saturday night, as Page and Machado Garry kick off the pay-per-view main card at UFC 303. It's a matchup that offers the Englishman the chance to continue his evolution as a fighter, as he looks to one-up his performance against Holland last time out.
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But, while some fighters opt to focus solely on their own skills, Page knows that to get the best out of his abilities, he needs to do his homework on his opponent to ensure that he can maximize the openings when they appear during the fight. It means that his prep has consisted of focusing on his skills, but also assessing where he can best deploy them against this particular opponent.
"I'm very sure that my skill level, my style of fighting, is awkward for anybody across the board," he explained.
"So I keep saying to myself, 'This is not a fight against the person in the cage, it's a fight to be better than I was the last time I was in the cage.'
"So that is 100 percent focusing on just me, and just refining what I know works for me. But, at the same time, there are certain things that you have to pay attention to with regards to the opponent that you're coming up against, because even some of the things that you're good at have to be timed slightly different. I have to find it in slightly different pockets during the fight, depending on the opponent. So you have to have a bit of an understanding of both."
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Victory over Machado Garry could put Page within striking distance of the welterweight top five and, potentially, the chance of a crack at the division's champion next year. That could mean a historic all-UK title fight with Leon Edwards, should "Rocky" get past Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 next month. Page reckons a win over Machado Garry, then maybe one more victory later this year, should put him in line to make that happen early in 2025.
"I do want to try to get one more fight by the end of the year and, for the most part, the UFC usually goes back to the UK at the beginning of the year. And, if all goes according to plan, that could be the title fight with me and Leon in the UK, so that's when it would be timed right."
UFC 303: Pereira vs Procházka 2 took place live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 29, 2024. See the Final Prelim & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC Fight Pass!
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