Michael "Venom" Page has officially found a new home in the combat sports world following what many analysts and fans have regarded as a head-scratching and abrupt run under the UFC banner. Despite carving out a respectable promotional record and maintaining a competitive edge among the elite athletes of mixed martial arts, Page is turning the page on his time with the world’s leading MMA promotion to embark on a fresh, highly anticipated chapter.
The journey to this new destination materialized swiftly this past Saturday, when it was officially announced that the dynamic striker had signed a lucrative multi-fight deal with Misfits Boxing. For Page, who goes by the moniker "MVP," the transition marks not only a shift in his fighting career but also a profound return to the uninhibited self-expression that first made him a global phenomenon in combat sports.
The sudden parting of ways with the UFC came as a surprise to many observers despite the writing seemingly being on the wall almost immediately after his promotional debut. Page’s exit was finalized following a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris this past September. That win successfully improved his promotional record to 5-1 inside the Octagon. Yet, despite being ranked concurrently in two different weight divisions and proving that he could hang with the upper echelon of the sport, the UFC opted against re-signing the veteran contender, allowing him to seamlessly enter free agency.
Reflecting on how quickly his next career move materialized after hitting the open market, Page admitted that the final pieces of the puzzle fell into place at the eleventh hour. Speaking candidly in an interview with The Stomping Ground, Page shed light on the whirlwind nature of the negotiations and his ultimate destination.
"To be fair, this one happened relatively quickly," Page told The Stomping Ground. "We kind of didn’t know as recent as three or four days back, it still wasn’t 100 percent confirmed where we’re going. But yeah, this makes sense."
The core motivation behind Page’s transition to Misfits Boxing centers heavily on creative freedom—an element of his career that he felt was heavily stifled during his tenure with the UFC. Known widely for his unorthodox striking, flamboyant personality, and theatrical walkouts, Page felt that the corporate structure of the MMA juggernaut placed unnecessary boundaries on his ability to entertain the fans fully.
"Like I said out there, I feel free of the shackles," Page explained. "I’m a very creative person—my walkouts, my entrances, my exits—and I wasn’t allowed to do that. And I feel like here, they’re literally like, ‘Look, we want you to be yourself.’ That’s going to help me be my best self."
While Page certainly managed to secure notable victories during his brief stint in the UFC, his overall run left a lingering sense of untapped potential. The unusual nature of his relationship with the promotion was apparent from the very beginning. His initial signing was announced in an almost understated manner as a throwaway portion of a Dana White post-event press conference, rather than the marquee rollout usually reserved for high-profile free agent acquisitions.
Throughout his time in the Octagon, Page showcased his world-class kickboxing and distance-management skills, though his bouts occasionally drew mixed reactions from purists regarding their entertainment value versus tactical execution. His lone blemish under the UFC banner came against rising star Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303 in June 2024, a high-stakes encounter that tested Page against one of the welterweight division’s finest technical minds.
Now, at 39 years old, Page acknowledges a tinge of regret regarding what could have been achieved if circumstances within the premier MMA organization had been different. However, rather than dwelling on missed opportunities, the seasoned veteran is exceptionally excited to put a fresh coat of paint on the next chapter of his combat sports career.
"For me, it’s a shame," Page explained, addressing the reality of his departure from the market leader. "I just feel like there’s so much more the UFC could be doing for fighters. Regardless, whether you like them, hate them, they are the biggest combat show in terms of MMA. So you have to value them, there’s some ridiculously talented fighters."
Page pointed to a specific frustration regarding his active status and the lack of engagement from the promotional matchmaking team, despite his willingness to face anyone and everyone in multiple weight classes. Being positioned in the top ten of two separate divisions should have naturally paved the way for blockbuster showdowns and title-eliminator bouts. Instead, Page encountered a wall of silence that ultimately soured his experience.
"But I went in there, and I was top-10 in two divisions, I was calling out everybody, wasn’t getting any feedback," Page said. "Again, [I] felt very restricted, so it’s a shame because I felt like there was more fights, big fights that could be had. But here, I feel free. The big fights, the big names that are out there, that are away from other shows, it’s all going to happen."
With the multi-fight deal with Misfits Boxing now officially inked, Michael "Venom" Page is poised to reintroduce himself to the combat sports world on his own terms. Unshackled from the corporate constraints that he believes hindered his creative expression in the UFC, "MVP" is ready to step back under the bright lights, orchestrate his trademark theatrical entrances, and deliver the high-level striking displays that first captured the imagination of fight fans across the globe. As he prepares for this thrilling new endeavor, the combat sports community waits eagerly to see what creative spectacles and high-profile matchups Page will orchestrate next.
