Fighter Spotlight: Michael "Venom" Page
Michael “Venom” Page was born in London, England on April 7th, 1987. Involved in martial arts practically from birth; his parents were Lau Gar Kung Fu practitioners. Raised among nine siblings, his father began training him at just three years old. Page competed in his first kickboxing tournament at age five, and he’d go on to win his first kickboxing world championship at 12. He’d then enter his first adult tournament at 13, ultimately going on to win ten world championships, as well as being crowned the British champion over 25 times. While he realized fantastic success as a kickboxer, he grew tired of a lack of exposure and the politics at work within many major kickboxing associations. These issues would lead Page to transition to MMA in 2011.
MMA Beginnings
Interestingly, he nearly ended up training at American Top Team, having a sibling living in Miami, but ultimately chose London Shootfighters. He rapidly expanded his abilities and made his MMA debut in 2012 against Ben Dishman. Page would instantly launch into internet virality, scoring a tornado kick knockout within the first two minutes of the bout. With this clip scattered across the internet, he’d earn comparisons to Anderson Silva in his very first MMA outing. After scoring another two impressive victories on the regional scene, he’d gain the attention of Bellator MMA. Although Page made his Bellator debut in 2013, scoring a ten-second KO victory, he wouldn’t be exclusively under contract with them until 2014.
Early in his career, an odd trend began that followed him throughout his Bellator tenure: fight cancellations and replacement opponents. In 2015, he’d fight Charlie Ontiveros on three weeks' notice after having four separate opponents pull out for various reasons. Page would have over seven bouts canceled in the following years, along with numerous reschedulings. These problems would also contribute to the reputation he had earned as a “can crusher,” someone who only fights people far below their skill level. While many of the poor matchups he received weren’t under his control, it’s hard to dispute the records of his opponents; Evangelista Santos has a record of 21-18, and Fernando Lopez holds a record of 29-20.
The Later Years
He’d finally break free of the “can crusher” stigma when he was matched up with former UFC and Strikeforce title contender Paul Daley. By far the highest profile bout of Page’s career, they’d face off in the quarterfinal round of the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix. Called the “biggest fight in Bellator history,” fans would unfortunately be disappointed. While both men were known for their striking prowess, the fight would primarily play out on the ground, with Page earning a unanimous decision victory. Following this, he’d face the toughest test of his career in Douglas Lima. Despite some early success, he’d suffer a brutal knockout, ending his undefeated streak. Surprisingly, though, this seemed to benefit Page, and he’s gone 7-1 since the loss and earned his loss back, defeating Douglas Lima via split decision in 2021.
He’s known for his wild striking style, constantly spinning, jumping, and throwing highly unorthodox attacks. Always coming forward with his hands down, he’ll continuously switch stances and look to counter his opponent. Holding significant power in both his punches and kicks, predicting his next move is impossible. Page has arguably the most diverse kicking arsenal in MMA, backed by phenomenal footwork and distance management. He has a penchant for walk-off knockouts, often putting his opponent out with one shot and casually walking away. Page has proven to be one of the most consistently entertaining fighters, regardless of his opponent.
This upcoming Saturday, he will make his long-awaited UFC debut against fan-favorite Kevin Holland. A fantastic stylistic matchup, Page has an opportunity to show UFC fans what he’s all about. His brash trash talk, cocky attitude, and flashy style could easily project him to a similar status he found in Bellator. Regardless of the outcome this weekend, he will always be known as one of the most skillful, technical kickboxers ever seen in MMA.
