Michael ‘Venom’ Page showcased some new bling after spoiling Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov’s undefeated record at UFC Saudi Arabia.
UFC welterweight contender Michael ‘Venom’ Page is not only an elite fighter, but an elite entertainer in and out of the cage. His highlight reel is filled with wild knockouts, creative post-fight celebrations, and smooth talking on the mic during his interviews.
Just a handful of fights into his UFC tenure, Page has become a fan favorite due to his unique striking style and unique walkouts. He made his middleweight debut at UFC Saudi Arabia against a budding superstar, Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov, and didn’t disappoint the viewing audience.
Page frustrated and shut down Magomedov in the UFC Saudi Arabia co-main event, eventually winning by unanimous decision. Despite being outsized, Page was able to use his speed and movement en route to a decisive victory.
In his post-fight interview with Paul Felder, Page showed a shiny new ring he got just days before UFC Saudi Arabia. While some fans and pundits might’ve questioned why Page would bring the expensive piece of jewelry inside the Octagon, it turns out the ring was part of a pre-planned approach to his showdown with Magomedov.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
During his UFC Saudi Arabia post-fight press conference, Page explained the hidden meaning behind the ring he showed off on the live broadcast.
“I knew I was going to be playing on the fact that [Magomedov] calls himself ‘The Pirate’, this is the treasure right here,” Page said. “These guys call it a 1 of 1, it’s a one-off piece specifically made for me.
“They were just happy to gift it to me and kind of wished me well on my fight. This is how I knew I was going to bring back the treasure!”
In addition to the bling he showed off to the cameras, Page dropped an iconic movie reference in his post-fight interview that drew the attention of Khamzat Chimaev and others. He also hinted at a return to the welterweight division despite an impressive performance in his first middleweight showing.
Before defeating Magomedov, Page suffered his first UFC defeat to Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303 last June. He was victorious in his UFC debut against Kevin Holland last March after a long, decorated tenure in Bellator.
Page’s return to welterweight adds another element to the division’s title picture. Another win or two at 170lbs could potentially earn him a title shot, or at the very least a No. 1 contender fight in the crowded division.
Before UFC Saudi Arabia, Page touted his improved grappling skillset by defeating a UFC legend at Polaris 30. If his grappling continues to improve, he could be a handful for the top welterweight contenders moving forward.
Despite approaching his 40s, Page remains at the top of his game in and out of the cage. He proved he can compete with some of the most promising strikers in the UFC, including Magomedov, as he continues to work towards earning a world championship title.
Michael Venom PageMMAShara MagomedovUFC
