Issue 124

January 2015

Unconcerned by those who dislike his fighting style, Michael Page explains how he’s focused on becoming a complete fighter and winning Bellator’s welterweight strap.

Very rarely do you see a fighter get attention from fans and the media at the beginning of their career. It’s especially uncommon in MMA where it can be a near-impossible task to separate yourself from the pack of potential-filled fighters early on. Unless you’re Michael Page, of course. 

The 27-year-old set social media ablaze in 2012 when he scored a mind-boggling tornado-kick knockout in his mixed martial arts debut on a UCMMA show in London. The crowd erupted when they saw the audacious strike. It was just a sign of things to come, as Page added finish after finish to his ever-expanding highlight reel.

He earned plaudits from fighters for his daring dispatch of opponents, but fans were divided. Some loved his flamboyant style and compared him to the likes of Roy Jones Jr. and Anderson Silva. Others hated it and called him disrespectful for making his opponents look foolish and not taking fights seriously enough. Two years later – and now on the big stage for Bellator – he still splits fans, but it doesn’t faze him.

“If you’re a supporter of me now then I think you’ll always be a supporter, but if you’re not and you dislike what you see then you’re always going to dislike what you see,” says ‘Venom’ in an exclusive interview with Fighters Only.

“People who enjoy difference and change accept what I do and those who don’t see my style as disrespectful. It’s not something they’re accustomed to. I think it’s funny that they all watch to see me get beaten regardless. Honestly, it doesn’t really bother me either way.”

2014 was a breakthrough year for the London Shootfighters product. He made his return from an MCL injury – which kept him out of action for more than a year – to shine as the curtain jerker for Bellator’s inaugural PPV. The pressure was on the Brit to deliver a performance that would set the tone for the show and he duly delivered. He toyed with Ricky Rainey before he crushed him with an overhand right that crumbled him to his knees. Some would’ve cracked under the pressure, but Page thrived on being the center of attention. 

“That was a big occasion for me,” he says. “I’d told myself that I was going to put on a show because Bellator were still willing to put their faith in me and put me at the start of the most important show in their history. 

“It was a privilege. I didn’t even have any nerves, I just went out there and did what I do. Of course, you always get a nervous feeling during fights but that’s something you can’t switch off. However, I don’t think the occasion made me nervous. I was actually more excited than anything else.”

Page geared up to take part in a Bellator tournament to earn a spot as the next contender for Douglas Lima’s 170lb belt, but those plans were shelved when Scott Coker replaced Bjorn Rebney as company CEO. Now that road to the title is gone, Page will have to do things the old fashioned way – earn his shot with impressive performances against other contenders.

“(The tournament) was actually a goal of mine because that was the path I needed to take to get to the title,” he says. “I’m not exactly upset that it’s gone or disappointed, I just feel as if someone has put a barrier on one path, meaning I have to go another way. It would’ve been fun to do it I think.”

Confidence is a strong part of Page’s personality. Patience is too. He admits he’s not the finished article yet, but it won’t be long before he challenges for Bellator gold.

“I feel like I’m about 80% ready in terms of where I need to be as a fighter,” he says. “The last 20% is going to be the hardest aspect for me. If you’re a slightly-above-average fighter then I feel comfortable still, but if you’re at that top, top level then I still feel as if I need that extra 20% to feel comfortable.

“I’m honest with all this kind of stuff and I don’t see the need to hide it. The work that I’ve been doing and the guys I’ve been training with I feel confident that the 20% will come soon. However, at the moment I’d still like to take a couple more fights. 

“Douglas Lima is an amazing striker who’s also really comfortable on the ground. However, the fact is, he’s in a position that I want to be in so when it comes to that time I’m going to be analyzing him like everyone else so I can figure out where I need to be during that fight to make sure I win.”

INSPIRATION THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT

You’d be excused for thinking Michael Page has been plucked from a video game or action flick and dropped straight into the Bellator cage. Some of his moves seem to defy gravity and leave fans rubbing their eyes in disbelief. 

With that in mind, it makes sense that some of the biggest inspirations for his arsenal of strikes come from games that he plays and movies he watches.

“I get influenced by absolutely everything,” he says. “Video games, movies where people try and do crazy moves. I’m a creative person. I’m willing to try some stuff that doesn’t even sound possible just because I saw it or thought of it. I was heavily influenced by Hwoarang from the Tekken series and The Raid films. I carry those inspirations into the gym with me.”