A Welterweight contender takes another step forward in the divisional rankings at UFC 303 this weekend (Sat., June 29, 2024).
Michael “Venom” Page is wasting no time attempting to ascend the Welterweight ladder in UFC after a successful debut against Kevin Holland at UFC 299 in March 2024. The unanimous decision victory lined Page up for his sophomore outing opposite undefeated 14-0 Irish star, Ian Machado Garry, as UFC 303’s main card opening bout.
Making his name in Bellator before he arrived in UFC, Page caught plenty of flack for the matchmaking he was provided by his old promotion. Had this Garry fight happened under that umbrella, he believes it would have been treated the same.
“This type of fight, had it happened outside of the UFC, most people would have been like, ‘You’re fighting a can, why you fighting this guy?’” Page said at UFC 303 media day. “They would have had so many different things to say and it’s the exact same fight in the UFC, and everyone’s opinions have changed now. Like, ‘You’re fighting top-level guys now, and this and that.’
“I had a lot of people saying I wouldn’t be able to contend in the Top 10. Now I’m fighting someone that’s ranked seventh and a lot of people are like, ‘Yeah, you’re gonna kick his ass’ (laughs) It changes so drastically.”
Page, 37, didn’t look out of place against Holland in what was arguably the best performance of his 24-fight career (22-2). Historically, “MVP” has been a highlight-reel machine and wants to keep showing it’s just been a result of his skills rather than how he was booked.
“I’ve been saying for many, many years I spar a lot of UFC guys. I already know that I’m at that level,” Page said. “I didn’t come here to prove it to anybody else. It’s a great cherry on top, but I wasn’t coming here to prove to everybody else, I already knew I could do that.
“What I’m saying is, for example, the likes of let’s say a Ross Houston,” he continued. “I remember getting that fight and the negative pushback I got from it, they (Houston and Garry) came from the same place. The difference is one went to Bellator and one went to UFC. I understand the magnitude of UFC and the branding and stuff so I get that, but I feel like sometimes people are fooled by just the branding and not the actual fighters themselves and they’re not actually analyzing the fighters and fights themselves.”
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LIVE! Watch UFC 303 PPV On ESPN+ Here!
’McGREGOR-FREE MAIN EVENT! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., June 29, 2024, without its biggest box office draw, Conor McGregor, after the Irish sports star delayed the “greatest comeback of all-time” because he broke his pinky toe (seriously). Coming the rescue once again is Light Heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, agreeing to rematch former division champion, Jiri Prochazka, in the pay-per-view (PPV) main event. In UFC 303’s co-headliner, top-ranked Featherweight contender, Brian Ortega, will attempt to halt the rise of red-hot surging 145-pound prospect, Diego Lopes. UFC 303’s PPV main card (see it here) will also feature Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze and Ian Garry vs. Michael “Venom” Page and so much more. It’s must-watch action! UFC 303 start time scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (Prelims) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV).
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 303 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET), before the pay-per-view (PPV) main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 303: “Alex vs. Jiri 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
