Michael
Page made an immediate impact at 185 pounds at UFC
Saudi Arabia.
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The flashy striker handed Sharabutdin
Magomedov his first career defeat in the evening’s middleweight
co-headliner, winning a unanimous decision at ANB Arena in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia. While “Shara Bullet” displayed a penchant for the
spectacular in previous Octagon appearances, he struggled to find
openings against Page.
“This is the reason why I called him out. I could see my style fit
his style,” Page said on the ESPN post-fight show. “As much as he’s
an exceptional striker, I’ve seen that before. I knew he would be a
bit more tentative with me bouncing in front of him … He likes to
kick. I’ve seen all the best kicks in the world. I’m never fazed
with any kick.”
While the victory might create some more options for “Venom,” the
Brit is still eyeing a return to the welterweight division, where
he has competed for the majority of his career.
“I’ve just got goals at 170,” Page said. “I think 170 at the
moment, although Belal’s got the belt, I think it’s still moving …
I don’t think it’s solidified with any one person. There’s a lot of
moving parts. A lot of people that don’t normally lose are losing
at the moment. I can see my path to the top, so I want to make that
happen.
“…Maybe [middleweight is] something I need to consider and sit down
with my team. I think at the moment I can still see a path to
success and victory at [welterweight].”
After building his highlight reel under the Bellator
MMA banner, Page has been victorious in two of his first three
UFC appearances. However, all three of his bouts have gone the
distance thus far. It’s something he hopes to change as he grows
more comfortable in the Octagon.
“I’m always hard on myself. My output, it should have been a lot
more …. I’m definitely happy with the result. The performance, I
always want to be better,” he said. “I’m always searching for that
highlight-reel knockout — the reason why the UFC wanted to sign me
in the first place. I know it’s there.
“Maybe I do need to get a little bit more comfortable with the
magnitude of the UFC. I think it does change it. At first I was
like, ‘There’s no way. I’m MVP. I’ve done these big things before.’
But I’m definitely a lot more hesitant here than I was when I was
fighting elsewhere. That will slowly change the more and more I do
this.”