Michael Venom Page has expressed frustration with his matchup at UFC London. Since joining the UFC in 2024, Page has only suffered one loss inside the octagon, which came against Ian Machado-Galley in June of that year. The 38-year-old, who dominated in the Premier League with victories over Kevin Holland, Shara Magomedov, and Jared Cannonier, is now set to face unranked welterweight Sam Patterson on March 21st.
After his defeat to Machado-Galley, Page moved up to middleweight and climbed the rankings with two notable wins. However, despite being ranked at 185 pounds, he is now scheduled to drop back down to 170 pounds and fight an unranked opponent, a decision that clearly bothers him. Patterson, who has impressively secured four straight wins since moving up from lightweight, may seem like a step back for Page. He also pointed out that this fight will serve as the opening bout on the main card, adding to his concerns.
Speaking to MMA Junkie, Page admitted, “This fight isn’t what I expected or wanted.” He explained that Patterson is someone he has previously trained with while preparing for other opponents, which makes facing him less appealing. “I came here aiming for a big name, asking for fights against anyone, but it seems no one wants to take the challenge.” Page also expressed uncertainty about the significance of winning this fight beyond a potential highlight reel and suggested that if his opponent shared his level of recognition, he might have been placed higher on the card. He concluded by saying, “I feel like I might have offended someone.”
Since entering the UFC, Michael Page has defeated notable fighters, but he has yet to finish a fight, with all his wins coming via decision. Recently, it has become clear that the promotion tends to penalize fighters who don’t fit the label of being “exciting,” which might explain Page’s current matchmaking struggles.
Fan Take: This situation highlights the ongoing tension between athletes’ desire for meaningful, career-advancing fights and the promotional focus on fan engagement and marketability. For fight fans, it raises important questions about how matchmaking decisions impact both the growth of fighters and the overall excitement of the sport.
