Michael “Venom” Page’s departure from the UFC has sparked controversy among fans and fighters alike. During his tenure in the octagon, Page achieved five victories out of six fights, with his only loss coming against top contender Ian Machado Garry. As he approached the final fight of his UFC contract at UFC Paris, rumors circulated that the organization might not renew his deal. Although he secured another win against a formidable opponent, his performance once again failed to impress the matchmakers, leading to their decision not to extend his contract.
With no new agreement in place, Michael “Venom” Page is now a free agent. Fellow UFC star Israel Adesanya expressed his frustration over the release, drawing comparisons to Tai Tuivasa’s ongoing UFC tenure despite an eight-fight losing streak. Adesanya remarked, “It’s unfortunate. They cut Michael ‘Venom’ Page, and they don’t cut [Tai Tuivasa]… The UFC operates on a case-by-case basis. I’ve dealt with managers in the UFC and heard stories about how they negotiate deals. I think they made a mistake with Venom since his only loss was to Ian Garry, who recently went head-to-head with pound-for-pound number one, Islam Makhachev.”
He added, “Michael is incredibly tough to finish. Anyone who fights him knows this—I’ve been in fights where the opponent just waits patiently instead of attacking. I’m landing strikes, yet they’re hesitant to engage. You can’t treat a fight like a free pass.”
Adesanya continued by saying, “You have to allow fighters to develop and find their rhythm. Michael was a major investment from Bellator and is being paid well, but maybe UFC was hoping for a different kind of excitement from him. Personally, I find his style thrilling.”
Fan Take: This release highlights the challenging balance the UFC faces between marketability and performance. For fight fans, Page’s departure is a loss of a unique and methodical fighting style that could push the sport toward more diverse and strategic combat approaches.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
