According to Vicente
Luque, Michael
Page’s
Ultimate Fighting Championship debut was proof that the Las
Vegas-based promotion is on a different level compared to its
counterparts.
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After months of negotiations with the UFC, Page signed with the
promotion last December and made his debut against Kevin
Holland at UFC
299earlier this month. Known for his highlight reel knockouts,
“Venom” did put on a show, completely outclassing Holland on the
feet mixed with some signature showboating. However, the former
Bellator
MMA star failed to score a finish or even hurt “Trailblazer”
significantly in a fight that was seen as lukewarm by some.
Welterweight veteran Luque (22-9) also didn’t see Page looking as
good in his UFC debut as the Brit did in his previous outings. “The
Silent Assassin” believes it might have to do with the pressure of
performing on the biggest stage in the world. Regardless, Luque is
excited about the attention Page will bring to the division and is
even open to a future clash.
“I thought it was interesting,” the 32-year-old said during
UFC Atlantic City media day. “Like he’s always been this
really, really elusive striker where he has like these crazy fights
where he goes out there and plays with his opponents; but now he
was fighting in the UFC, a guy in Kevin Holland, which is not just
any fighter. And I thought it was good for him to go out there and
get a win. I think that he didn’t look like he looks against other
fighters in other [promotions.] But I don’t know, it was his first
fight. Also like, people say, ‘OK, he’s experienced,’ [but] it’s
different to fight in the UFC. You got that pressure of being able
to showcase all you’ve got on the biggest show on the planet. So
maybe was a little bit of that. But I’m excited to have a guy like
him in the division. A guy that definitely brings a lot of eyes of
the fans and we’ll see maybe down the line we can even put on a
fight. I always like facing all the strikers and testing myself out
against those guys.”
Luque is slated to co-headline UFC Atlantic City opposite Joaquin
Buckley (17-6) at Boardwalk Hall on March 30. The Brazilian is
coming off a unanimous decision win over Rafael dos
Anjos in August 2023 which saw him rebound from a two-fight
skid. Luque was supposed to face Ian Garry at
UFC 296 this past December but the booking fell through after
Garry came down with pneumonia.