Michael ‘Venom’ Page is only open to a welterweight return for one massive UK showdown.
Michael ‘Venom’ Page‘s middleweight transformation is off to a fine start, after he defeated Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov at UFC Saudi Arabia earlier this year. But Page will face a steep climb in competition as he prepares to face former title challenger Jared Cannonier at UFC 319.
Page vs. Cannonier is one of the most intriguing fights on a stacked card at UFC 319. A win over a top contender like Cannonier would propel Page into the middleweight title conversation.
Despite Page’s success in this new venture, he’s open to returning to the 170 lb division for a fight he’s wanted for years.
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Michael ‘Venom’ Page eyes Leon Edwards matchup for one-off welterweight return
During his brief UFC welterweight tenure, Page defeated Kevin Holland before suffering a close loss to Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303. The Garry loss prompted Page to make the move to middleweight to pursue exciting matchups in the division, but his welterweight tenure might not be off the table just yet.
In a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Page revealed the one fight that would lead him to return to the welterweight division.
“I’m in it for big fights, and at the same time, I do want to get to a title fight,” Page said.
“How I see it now is I’m a person that can fight in both divisions, and depending on what the best path is to the top, which also includes exciting fights.
“For example, next year…they’d like to come back to the UK. I still think a Leon Edwards fight is a great fight for the UK.”
Page then clarified if the fight with Leon Edwards would be in his new division.
“And obviously that’s going to be at welterweight. So if that’s offered to me, I’d 100 percent accept that kind of fight,” Page said. “I kind of only want it in the UK anyway, so technically it wouldn’t have been in place until next year anyway.
“I think everything’s timing, I think if it aligns for next year, that would be perfect.”
Edwards hasn’t fought since a submission loss to Sean Brady at UFC London earlier this year. He lost the UFC welterweight title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 last year, after successful title defenses against Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington.
Michael ‘Venom’ Page vs. Leon Edwards would be one of the UK’s biggest fights
A clash between Page and Edwards, two of the most dynamic strikers in MMA, would add fuel to the sport’s rise in the UK. Despite being past his physical prime, Page is still a dangerous puzzle at middleweight and has sustained a significant fanbase.
Page is also interested in moving up another weight class to fight former UFC light heavyweight champ, Jiri Prochazka. Prochazka briefly teased a move to middleweight before agreeing to his light heavyweight return later this year at UFC 320.
Edwards envisions a return to the Octagon later this year, despite recent calls for retirement by fans online. Edwards recently shared that he’s been in talks with the UFC to book a fight with Garry for his return.
If Page is successful in his upcoming middleweight fight, the timeline for a potential Edwards clash could be pushed back. Edwards and Page’s next fights could go a long way in determining whether or not the all-UK matchup will come to fruition.