Superstar welterweight Michael ‘Venom’ Page wants to fight for the UFC title next, but he’s also got his eye on a former champion to secure that shot.
Despite only making his UFC debut earlier this year, fan-favorite striking specialist Michael ‘Venom’ Page is set to be catapulted into welterweight title contention, should he get a statement win over divisive Irish contender Ian Machado Garry.
Michael ‘Venom’ Page shares bold KO prediction ahead of UFC 303
After creating an already iconic legacy over in Bellator, Michael ‘Venom’ Page burst onto the UFC scene earlier this year as he scored a unanimous decision victory over veteran Kevin Holland.
Now, the flashy striker is only a few weeks away from his highly anticipated return to action, this time to face surging contender Ian Machado Garry – and it’s safe to say that MVP is looking forward to putting his hands on ‘The Future’.
Speaking to MMA journalist Chamatkar Sandhu via his official YouTube channel, Page sent an ominous message to Garry as he made a bold prediction for how that fight will play out.
“I’ve got about 10 different ways to hurt this guy and they’re all horrible, so he can pick.”
Despite some choice words for one another in recent weeks, the British star acknowledged that “He’s a talented fighter, nothing that I haven’t seen before but he is a talented fighter.
“In terms of his personality, it feels a bit fake, it feels a bit like he’s trying too hard to be famous… People don’t like that which is why he’s got such a negative appeal online. I don’t really care, he’s just another step on the ladder to get to the top.”
Interestingly, MVP later confirmed how that ladder could also now involve a ‘Nightmare’ former champion, none other than the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ himself, Kamaru Usman.
MVP says he might need one more ‘Nightmare’ scalp to earn title shot
MVP vs Garry takes place at UFC 303 on June 29, only a few weeks before the welterweight title is set to be contested at UFC 304 in Manchester; with it being a rather safe bet that Page will be sitting cageside when Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad make their walkouts.
The 37-year-old noted that his ideal path to UFC gold would be a finish of Garry, before taking on his fellow British superstar ‘Rocky’ for an all-UK showdown at the start of 2025 – “100%, that’s the dream scenario.”
Yet MVP is acutely aware that he might need one more statement win in order to secure a shot at the 170lb title; “I believe there will be one more fight in between – if I want to bring it back to the UK, there will most likely be one more fight.”
“Obviously, they usually do a show like in March or something so if I can get one more fight by the end of the year, that’ll be perfect,” he stated, before revealing the one name he’s most likely to call out in his post-fight speech at UFC 303.
“Perfect way to sign off the year. You know, finish Ian and then maybe ask for like an Usman, you know get a big fight next. He’s number one ranked [and] again, there’s no point wasting time [so] let’s jump up, let’s go.
“Ask for like an Usman, if he’s happy to go – we go. Make that win, get that win, there’s no debates after that it’s like I deserve the belt… But again, you know, it’s weird how things shift and move so potentially, the next fight could be Leon.”
At the time of writing, Kamaru Usman is ranked #1 in the welterweight division, with Garry and MVP occupying the #7 and #14 spots respectively.
Michael Page vs Ian Machado Garry goes down live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 29.