Ahead of his UFC debut this weekend, Michael ‘Venom’ Page says he is walking a path that will lead to an all-British welterweight title showdown.
Former Bellator standout Page (21-2) takes on his maiden challenge in the Octagon this Saturday night in Miami, Florida when he fights Kevin Holland in a main card bout at UFC 299. The fight, which comes against the 13th-ranked Holland, will be the Englishman’s first step towards title contention, he says, and a potentially historic clash against Leon Edwards in what would be the first time in the UFC’s 30+ year history that two Britons have fought to contest UFC gold.
“[The UFC] isn’t like, ‘we’re going to warm you up and give you someone that’s not rated or new to the game,’” Page said, according to UFC.com.
“Holland is the perfect guy, he’s game, he is tough as nails, entertaining and I’m a fan of him, as well,” ‘MVP’ added. “I always love to take myself to one side and just be a fan of the sport. There are certain guys that I just watch their fights and they’ve had some epic fights and I’m a fan of him from that perspective.”
As such, Page says that this Saturday’s fight is the perfect platform to show that he’s UFC title material.
“It’s not really just the fight, it’s more about the occasion, but Leon Edwards,” Page stated. “I’m cool with him, there’s no bad blood there, but like I said, we’re prizefighters at the end of the day.
“We also spoke about what was happening in the UK and what’s happening for the UK right now. I can already foresee me, Leon Edwards, in a stadium in the UK, and regardless of what happens, the result on that day, the belt stays with the UK at the end of it and that excites me. Not even for my myself, but for what it is going to mean to the UK.”
For this to happen Page, who turns 37 in April, likely can’t experience any setbacks on his 170-pound journey — the first chapter of which this weekend promises to be an exciting one.