A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Michael Page | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | Michael Jerome Reece-Page 7 April 1987 London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other names | Venom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Division | Welterweight (MMA) Light heavyweight (boxing) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reach | 79 in (201 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Style | Kickboxing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fighting out of | London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | London Shootfighters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank | black belt in Kung Fu[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years active | 2017–present (boxing) 2012–present (MMA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Professional boxing record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wins | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By knockout | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kickboxing record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wins | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By knockout | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mixed martial arts record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wins | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By knockout | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By submission | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By decision | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Losses | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By knockout | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By decision | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable school(s) | Quintin Kynaston School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | michaelvenompage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boxing record from BoxRec | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Michael Jerome Reece-Page[2][3] (born 7 April 1987), better known as Michael "Venom" Page or MVP, is an English professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[4][5] As of 12 March 2024, he is #13 in the UFC welterweight rankings.[6]
He is recognized in the MMA community for his unorthodox fighting style, which originated from freestyle kickboxing (points fighting) and sport karate.[7][8] He has also competed professionally as a kickboxer, boxer and bare-knuckle boxer.
Early life
Page was born in St Mary's Hospital, London to Curtis Page Sr. and Pauline Reece, who were both Lau Gar kung fu practitioners.[9] His father, a British Telecom employee, hailed from Trinidad while his mother, a nurse, was from Jamaica.[4][5][10][11] Page is a maternal nephew of Lau Gar Master Stan Brown, who was also the instructor of his father.[12][13] He has nine siblings, three of whom are adopted.[14] Page attended Quintin Kynaston School in St John's Wood, alongside Olympian judoka Ashley McKenzie.[15][16] He grew up in NW8 near Edgware Road and Lisson Green before moving to W10 near Queen's Park in 2003.[12][15][17] Since almost everyone in his family was involved in martial arts, he felt it was natural to follow suit.[18][19]
Kickboxing career
His father, Curtis Page Sr. was his instructor.[18][20] Of his nine siblings, his sister Sefena and brothers Curtis Jr., Jamie, and Kalon are also kickboxing champions.[citation needed]
Page began training in Lau Gar at the age of 3 and competed at his first kickboxing tournament at the age of 5.[21][22][23] By the age of 8, he began to devote himself to competition and entered his first international tournament in Germany.[13][24]
Page won 10 world championships in kickboxing – his first was at the US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships 1998[25] in Orlando, Florida[13] when he was 12 years old[26] – and was crowned British champion over 25 times.[27] By the age of 13, Page started entering adult competitions.[13][19][28] To prepare, he would train five hours a day for five days a week.[29] During tournament days he would often fight up to 14 times due to competing in three weight classes, and at one point fought 22 times in a day across five weight classes.[30] Another world title win was at the W.A.K.O. World Championships 2007 (Coimbra) where, at the −89 kg semi-contact division, he won gold after defeating Dave Heffernan.[31][32] He also competed at the W.A.K.O. Austrian Classics Worldcup 2008 (Kufstein), winning gold in the −84 kg semi-contact division over Krisztián Jároszkievicz.[33][34] Page participated at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2008 (Dublin), earning silver in the −84 kg semi-contact division after falling short to Raymond Daniels.[35] Page then won gold at the W.A.K.O. Austrian Classics Worldcup 2009 (Walchsee), placing first in both the −84 kg light-contact and semi-contact divisions, defeating Bojan Miskovic and Zvonimir Gribl respectively.[36][37] Page returned to participate in the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2009 (Dublin) but was defeated by Raymond Daniels, placing second in the −84 kg semi-contact division.[38] Page – appointed as the WKA Head Coach[39] – led a team to the WKA World Championships 2009 (Huelva), defeating James Benjamin Stewart to claim gold in the organisation's first semi-contact prize competition[40] and bronze in the −90 kg light-contact division, upon being bested by Tarek Haydar.[2][3] He then participated in the W.A.K.O. World Championships 2009 (Lignano Sabbiadoro) and finished second in the −84 kg semi-contact division, after being defeated by Krisztián Jároszkievicz.[41] On 4 September 2010, he competed at the World Combat Games 2010 (Beijing) in the −84 kg semi-contact division, where he earned silver, losing gold to Krisztián Jároszkievicz.[42][43] Page fought Raymond Daniels at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2011 (Dublin), securing silver in the −84 kg semi-contact division.[8]
Page was scouted by the Great Britain Taekwondo team to train and qualify for the Olympics but turned it down to pursue a professional combat sports career.[44]
When not competing Page trains others in kickboxing, primarily as an instructor at the Hands Down Martial Arts Academies throughout Surrey.[45]
Mixed martial arts career
Background
Dissatisfied with the lack of exposure[46] as well as the politics[47] involved in competing among various kickboxing associations, Page decided to cross over into mixed martial arts.[48][49] He initially considered going to American Top Team[50] during his transition into MMA since his older siblings live in Miami[18] but chose to start his career with London Shootfighters[51] in July 2011.[52] Page spends up to seven hours training in the gym, and does not undergo IV therapy after cutting weight.[53][54] He cross-trains Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Gracie Barra.[55] Page is represented by Paradigm Sports Management.[56][57]
UCMMA
Page made his MMA debut at UCMMA 26 against Ben Dishman on 4 February 2012 and won via technical knockout from a first round tornado kick.[58] His original opponent Sam Boo withdrew a day before the fight.[59][60] The fight went viral and comparisons were drawn between Page and Anderson Silva.[61][62][63] He was paid £200 for the bout.[64]
On 7 April 2012, Page faced Miguel Bernard at UCMMA 27 in a 176 lb catchweight bout despite weighing in at 165 lb.[65] Page won in the first round after forcing Bernard to tap out upon transitioning from a triangle choke into an armbar.[66]
Page briefly returned to kickboxing when he fought in a UK-1 bout on 18 August 2012 at UCMMA 29. Page was supposed to challenge UCMMA UK-1 welterweight champion Peter Irving for the belt.[67][68] However, Irving pulled out of the fight due to a neck injury[12] and was replaced by Jefferson George after another three opponents dropped out within a month for undisclosed reasons.[69][70] Page won after knocking out George from a two punch combination in the second round.[71]
Super Fight League
On 24 June 2012, Super Fight League announced that they signed Michael Page[72] to an exclusive 18-month, four-fight contract.[73]
Page made his promotional debut on 2 November 2012 at SFL 7 as the main event against Haitham El-Sayed, winning by technical knockout in round one via doctor stoppage due to cuts.[74]
Page returned to Super Fight League on 12 April 2013 to face Ramdan Mohamed at SFL 15 as the main event and won via rear-naked choke in the first round.[75]
Bellator MMA
2013
After winning his UK-1 fight against Jefferson George, Page announced that he had signed a five-fight contract with Bellator MMA and that he would fight for Bellator and Super Fight League under their respective contracts.[76][77]
Page was expected to make his promotional debut at Bellator 82 but pulled out of the bout citing surgery for an old injury.[78][79][80] Another potential yet unannounced debut at Bellator 90 against Sean Powers was cancelled for undisclosed reasons.[81]
Page made his debut on 21 March 2013 at Bellator 93.[82] He faced Ryan Sanders and won via knockout at 10 seconds into the first round.[83]
Page was scheduled to fight Kenny Ento at Bellator 102[84] but withdrew due to a rib cartilage injury,[85][86] an ankle injury,[87] and a knee injury.[88] A later appearance slated for Bellator 109 against Andrew Osborne was also cancelled because of lingering injuries.[89]
2014
Page was slated to fight Fight Master: Bellator MMA contestant Marcus Aurelio at Bellator 120 on 17 May 2014 but Aurelio withdrew due to injury.[90][91] Ricky Rainey was immediately sought as a replacement after his Bellator 116 victory[92] and was informed of his opponent a week later.[93] Page won via technical knockout in the first round.[94]
Page next faced Nah-Shon Burrell at Bellator 128 as the co-main event on 10 October 2014.[95] He won via unanimous decision.[96]
On 19 December 2014, Michael Page confirmed that he was no longer contracted with Super Fight League and instead signed an exclusive two year, five-fight contract extension with Bellator.[14][97]
2015
Page was expected to face Curtis Millender at Bellator 134.[98] However, Page pulled out of the fight due to a cut over his left eye which was sustained during a guard passing drill[99] and required six stitches.[100] He was replaced by Brennan Ward.[101]
Page faced Rudy Bears at Bellator 140 on 17 July 2015.[102] He won by knockout in the first round.[103]
Page fought Charlie Ontiveros at Bellator 144 on 23 October 2015 with less than three weeks' notice after four opponents – including his initial opponent Marius Žaromskis[104] and later Cristiano Souza[105] – pulled out of the fight for undisclosed reasons.[106] Page won via verbal submission due to elbows in the first round after dislocating Ontiveros' jaw.[107][108][109]
2016
He was expected to fight Fernando Gonzalez at Bellator 151 as the co-main event[110] but withdrew from the bout as he was already committed to officiate at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2016 (Dublin)[111] as coach of the Top Ten UK team.[112] He was replaced by Gilbert Smith.[113]
Page defeated Jeremie Holloway at Bellator 153 on 22 April 2016, submitting him with an Estima lock in round one.[114][115][116]
Page's fight with Fernando Gonzalez was rescheduled[117] for Bellator 158 on 16 July 2016 but visa issues forced Gonzalez to withdraw.[118] Page accepted a contract to fight Paul Daley after Josh Koscheck withdrew but Daley chose to fight Douglas Lima instead.[119] Page fought Evangelista Santos[citation needed] and won by knocking out Santos with a flying knee in the second round.[120] Santos underwent surgery afterwards due to a depressed frontal sinus fracture.[121] The fight went viral partly due to the Pokémon Go-inspired post-fight celebration.[122]
In July 2016, Bellator claimed that Page re-signed[123] with the promotion and had four fights left on his contract.[124] However, Page stated that he did not re-sign but had two fights left from existing contractual provisions.[125]
Page fought Fernando Gonzalez on 19 November 2016 at Bellator 165 as the co-main event.[126] He won the fight via split decision.[127]
2017
A proposed bout between Page and Paul Daley was targeted for Bellator 179 but negotiations fell through after Daley chose to fight Rory MacDonald instead.[128] Page was supposed to fight Derek Anderson[129] but an old knee injury[130][131] and neck injury forced him off the card.[132] Daley attempted to brawl with Page after losing his fight.[133] Another fight with Daley was proposed for September 2017 in London but was turned down by Daley, who instead opted to fight Lorenz Larkin at Bellator 183.[134][135]
Page was expected to compete at Bellator 191 but a fight was never announced.[136]
2018
Bellator attempted to match Page against Daley on 9 March 2018 but negotiations stalled when Daley refused to commit to the date.[137]
Page fought David Rickels on 25 May 2018 at Bellator 200 as the co-main event.[138] He won the fight via verbal submission due to a punch in the second round that opened a cut above Rickels' left eye.[139][140] He spent a portion of his training camp at Straight Blast Gym - Ireland in preparation for the fight.[141] He paid tribute to his cousin Helena Ramsay, a victim of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, during the open workout and post-fight interview.[142][143]
On 30 July 2018, Page confirmed signing a new six-fight contract with Bellator, three for the tournament and three as part of the champion clause.[144] The contract will let him box, subject to Bellator's approval.[145]
2019
Page faced Paul Daley in the quarter-final of the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix Tournament on 16 February 2019 at Bellator 216.[146][147] He won by unanimous decision, in an uneventful fight in which neither fighter was able to mount any significant offence.[148][149] His father died prior to the fight on 26 December 2018.[150][151]
Page fought former two-time Bellator Welterweight World Champion Douglas Lima in the semi-final of the welterweight tournament on 11 May 2019 at Bellator 221.[152] Despite having some initial success, Page lost the fight via knockout in the second round.[153]
Page faced Richard Kiely at Bellator 227 as the co-main event on 27 September 2019.[154] He won the fight via knockout from a flying knee in the first round.[155]
Page was expected to headline Bellator London 2 against Derek Anderson on 23 November 2019 but Anderson withdrew for undisclosed reasons on 12 November 2019.[156][157] Page instead fought Giovanni Melillo and won by knockout in the first round.[158][159]
On 29 December 2019, Page fought Shinsho Anzai at Bellator & Rizin: Japan in a 173 lb catchweight bout.[160] He won by knockout in the second round.[161]
2020
Page faced Ross Houston at Bellator 248 on 10 October 2020.[162] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[163]
2021
Page faced Derek Anderson at Bellator 258 on 7 May 2021. Page was supposed to fight Anderson twice before at Bellator 179 and Bellator London 2.[164] During the first round, Page broke and flattened Anderson's nose with a kick, leading to the doctor stopping the fight between rounds.[165]
Page faced Douglas Lima in a rematch on 1 October 2021 at Bellator 267, Bellator's first card in the UK since the COVID-19 pandemic.[166] He won the bout via split decision.[167]
2022
Page was scheduled to fight for the Bellator Welterweight World Championship against reigning champion Yaroslav Amosov on 13 May 2022 at Bellator 281.[168] However, Amosov pulled out of the bout to fight in the Russo-Ukrainian War and was replaced by Logan Storley with the bout instead being for the interim Bellator Welterweight World Championship.[169] Page lost the bout via split decision.[170]
2023
Page faced Goiti Yamauchi on 10 March 2023 at Bellator 292.[171] He won the fight via TKO less than thirty seconds into the first round.[172]
Page announced his free agency on 17 July 2023.[173]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
In December 2023, it was announced that Page has signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship after free agency. Page made his UFC debut against Kevin Holland on 9 March 2024 at UFC 299.[174] He won the bout by unanimous decision.[175]
Boxing career
On 12 July 2017, it was announced that Page signed a three-year, fifteen-fight contract[176] with Hayemaker Ringstar, a promotional joint venture of David Haye and Richard Schaefer.[177] Page began training under the tutelage of Ismael Salas at Hayemaker HQ on 27 July 2017,[178] alongside Joe Joyce, Qais Ashfaq, and Willy Hutchinson.[179] While he still trains at London Shootfighters, he spends four days a week training at Hayemaker HQ.[180][181] Page compared the transition from MMA to boxing to a "sprinter turning into a long distance runner."[182] He did commentary for Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor in Las Vegas with Mike Costello and Steve Bunce on BBC Radio 5 Live.[183]
Page made his boxing debut on 20 October 2017 at Hayemaker Ringstar Fight Night against Jonathan Castano as the co-main event.[184] He won via technical knockout in the third round.[185] He was supposed to debut on the undercard of Haye vs. Bellew but was still negotiating with Bellator at the time.[180]
Page wanted to fight at Hayemaker Ringstar Fight Night 2 on 16 February 2018 but Bellator wanted an MMA fight scheduled before allowing him to commit to another boxing fight.[186][187]
He was expected to fight on the undercard of Haye vs. Bellew II but Bellator prevented him from competing due to its proximity to Bellator 200.[188][189]
Page fought at Hayemaker Ringstar Fight Night 3 against Michal Ciach on 15 June 2018.[190] He won by knockout in the second round.[191]
Bare-knuckle boxing
In June 2022, it was announced that Page would make his bare-knuckle boxing debut for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. He fought Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Mike Perry on 20 August 2022 in the main event at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 27: London.[192] Page lost by majority decision after the sixth round after the bout was declared a split draw decision following the first five rounds.[193]
Fighting style
Page describes his discipline as a "hands down kickboxing style" created from a "mishmash" of taekwondo, karate, and kung fu styles competing under a points scoring ruleset.[194][195][196] As a low-volume movement-based fighter his game plan revolves around controlling distance and landing heavy counterstrikes with high accuracy.[197][198] He relies on his elusive movement and knockout power to finish opponents and often engages in histrionics while fighting to maintain focus, unnerve his opponents, and rile up the crowd.[12][199][200] Page credited his parents, as well as Simon Lewis, and Marvin Francis as being the most influential in his combat sports career. This fighting style is also used by KSI.[53][67]
Personal life
Page received the moniker "Venom" from fellow kickboxer Marvin Francis in homage of the film Five Deadly Venoms.[39][201]
He became a Pollo-pescetarian in August 2017.[202][203]
Championships and accomplishments
Kickboxingedit
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Mixed martial artsedit
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Mixed martial arts recordedit
24 matches | 22 wins | 2 losses |
By knockout | 13 | 1 |
By submission | 3 | 0 |
By decision | 6 | 1 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 22–2 | Kevin Holland | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 299 | 9 March 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
Win | 21–2 | Goiti Yamauchi | TKO (leg kick) | Bellator 292 | 10 March 2023 | 1 | 0:26 | San Jose, California, United States | |
Loss | 20–2 | Logan Storley | Decision (split) | Bellator 281 | 13 May 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | London, England | For the interim Bellator Welterweight World Championship. |
Win | 20–1 | Douglas Lima | Decision (split) | Bellator 267 | 1 October 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
Win | 19–1 | Derek Anderson | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Bellator 258 | 7 May 2021 | 1 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Catchweight (175 lb) bout. |
Win | 18–1 | Ross Houston | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 248 | 10 October 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Paris, France | Catchweight (175 lb) bout. |
Win | 17–1 | Shinsho Anzai | KO (punch) | Bellator 237 | 29 December 2019 | 2 | 0:23 | Saitama, Japan | Catchweight (173 lb) bout. |
Win | 16–1 | Giovanni Melillo | KO (punch) | Bellator London 2 | 23 November 2019 | 1 | 1:47 | London, England | |
Win | 15–1 | Richard Kiely | KO (flying knee) | Bellator 227 | 27 September 2019 | 1 | 2:42 | Dublin, Ireland | |
Loss | 14–1 | Douglas Lima | KO (punches) | Bellator 221 | 13 May 2019 | 2 | 0:35 | Rosemont, Illinois, United States | Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix Semifinal. |
Win | 14–0 | Paul Daley | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 216 | 16 February 2019 | 5 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal. |
Win | 13–0 | David Rickels | TKO (retirement) | Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Michael_Page