EXCLUSIVEMichael 'Venom' Page vows to show he is 'the complete package', explains why the over 35 curse does NOT apply to him and reveals what fans can expect from UFC 299 debut against Kevin Holland
- Michael 'Venom' Page makes his UFC debut against Kevin Holland this Saturday
- He is one of the world's best strikers and thrives off entertaining the crowd
- Page has aspirations to take Leon Edwards' belt in an all-British showdown
How far could Michael 'Venom' Page go in the UFC? It has been a question pondered by MMA fans for years.
On Saturday night in Miami, MVP will make his debut at UFC 299 aged 36 against No 13-ranked Kevin Holland. By Sunday, there could be a brand new player sending shockwaves through the 170lbs division.
Page was the poster boy for Bellator before joining the UFC when his contract expired. He was a walking highlight reel of dancing, taunting and mind-boggling knockouts.
If he can deliver the same in the UFC, he'll have the platform to be a superstar.
But is it too late? There has been plenty of talk about the over-35s curse at welterweight and below, with stats in title fights significantly skewed in favour of younger fighters. Fighters aged 35 and over have a record of wining just two of 34 clashes for a belt.
![Michael 'Venom' Page arrives in the UFC with a high profile ahead of his debut in Miami](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/07/11/82155763-13168483-Michael_Venom_Page_arrives_in_the_UFC_with_a_high_profile_ahead_-a-16_1709809955514.jpg)
Michael 'Venom' Page arrives in the UFC with a high profile ahead of his debut in Miami
![MVP is one of the most skilled strikers in MMA, pictured here against Logan Storley](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/07/11/82157079-13168483-MVP_is_one_of_the_most_skilled_strikers_in_MMA_pictured_here_aga-a-17_1709809961981.jpg)
MVP is one of the most skilled strikers in MMA, pictured here against Logan Storley
Of course, MVP is not yet challenging for a title, but he insists the numbers don't concern him.
'The reason the over 35s curse is slightly different for me is that I didn't grow in the UFC so that curse doesn't apply to me,' Page exclusively tells Mail Sport.
'I came here past the curse! So it's looking for the youngers, it's not looking for me.'
'Everybody's story is different, everybody's story is supposed to happen differently. We love to try and tie things together and find patterns to justify the fixed opinion for anything moving forward.
'I love to break patterns, to break the norm and do the unexpected, so it literally suits me perfectly. I don't need any inspiration, I just need to be me.'
Perhaps only Michael Chandler has arrived with the same kind of profile in the UFC in recent years and MVP has certainly not been given a lay-up for his debut.
Holland has had 20 of his pro fights in the UFC, been inside the cage with some of the very best and boasts a well-rounded game, though he prefers to strike.
Fellow top welterweight Ian Machado Garry was recently asked about Page's upcoming fight and said: 'There's no f***ing way he beats Kevin Holland.'
What does the Londoner make of that assessment?
![The Englishman is capable of delivering spectacular knockouts with a variety of techniques](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/07/11/82155753-13168483-The_Englishman_is_capable_of_delivering_spectacular_knockouts_wi-a-18_1709810127828.jpg)
The Englishman is capable of delivering spectacular knockouts with a variety of techniques
![Kevin Holland is a dangerous opponent for Page to come up against in his UFC debut](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/07/13/82161597-13168483-image-a-35_1709817424665.jpg)
Kevin Holland is a dangerous opponent for Page to come up against in his UFC debut
'People are going to have their opinions and they're valid, he is a martial artist, he's an established martial artist in the UFC, you're allowed to have your opinions. But when reality hits after the fight, you'll have to adjust your opinion again and then we go from there.
'Everyone feels the need to prove something in a specific way, but if someone has a dislike towards you, they'll always keep putting hurdles in front of your so they'll say, "he's not going to beat Holland".
'I beat him in spectacular fashion, they'll say he was on the decline. It will be the same thing over and over and over again. If I lose, they'll use it to justify their opinion. So if someone has something negative about you, that's just how they're going to see it.
'I've had it before that when I land somewhere, the noise that I make, people want it. I don't need to call out anybody, I become the light that the moths are attracted to. As soon as I finish this fight, I will not need to say anything, people will want to take some of that shine and you'll get names around the block outside my door waiting.'
Despite plenty of success and brilliant finishes in Bellator, MVP was unable to win the title, suffering a split decision defeat for the interim belt against Logan Storley in a fight the American suffocated the life out of.
The plan is clear for Page's opponents - do not risk standing and trading blows with a kickboxer of such supreme talent. 'Venom' insists the other areas of his game are strong, but look inferior given the ridiculously high level of his striking.
![Page insists the rest of his game is at a high level, just made to look lower by his elite striking](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/07/11/82155749-13168483-Page_insists_the_rest_of_his_game_is_at_a_high_level_just_made_t-a-19_1709810148226.jpg)
Page insists the rest of his game is at a high level, just made to look lower by his elite striking
![The Londoner has aspirations to challenge for the UFC title having joined as a free agent](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/07/11/82155759-13168483-The_Londoner_has_aspirations_to_challenge_for_the_UFC_title_havi-a-20_1709810155832.jpg)
The Londoner has aspirations to challenge for the UFC title having joined as a free agent
He went on: 'I've got so much belief in my ability and if people had that fly on the wall camera and could see what I do in my gym, day in and day out, when high level competition comes in. High level boxers, high level kickboxers, high level wrestlers and grapplers and you're able to see what's done, people would be like, "oh yeah, he is high level".
'My striking is so far ahead of everything else that technically my weaker areas are the wrestling, the grappling etc.
'But that doesn't mean I'm not good at it or not capable of doing it at a high level. It's just that you can vastly see the difference between my striking and everything else.
'I've lived and breathed striking since I was three years old so it's very difficult for that not to be so far ahead. I'm very good everywhere, I just prefer to put a show on my feet.'
Page and Holland are cut from the same cloth in some respects, which is why this is such a tantalising match-up on paper.
The American, called 'Big Mouth' by Dana White for his repeated and unrelenting chatter to his opponents and just about anyone else in the middle of a fight, is also a natural entertainer.
So how will MVP deal with a dance partner of a similar nature? 'I never know,' he says. Even my creative side when I'm dancing and doing crazy crap in the cage, it's not planned, it just comes out.
'I think it's just part of Holland's make up, what he says or what happens just comes out in the moment and I'm sure he's not planning to say anything specific, that is just his character.
![The 36-year-old is joining the UFC at a time where over 35s do not fare well at the top end in divisions below middleweight, but he is out to break the pattern](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/07/11/82157081-13168483-The_36_year_old_is_joining_the_UFC_at_a_time_where_over_35s_do_n-a-21_1709810158748.jpg)
The 36-year-old is joining the UFC at a time where over 35s do not fare well at the top end in divisions below middleweight, but he is out to break the pattern
![Page wants to take on welterweight champion Leon Edwards in a massive all-British title fight](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/07/11/81841743-13168483-Page_wants_to_take_on_champion_Leon_Edwards_in_a_massive_all_Bri-a-22_1709810169285.jpg)
Page wants to take on welterweight champion Leon Edwards in a massive all-British title fight
'He probably does the same thing in his gym. He's just living out his character in public. I'm going to be exactly the same. If I decide to talk back to him, that's how I feel in that moment, if I stay silent and kick him in the face, that's how I feel in that moment.'
Ultimately, the goal for MVP will be as swift a rise as possible. If he can finish his opponents in style and combine it with his trademark showmanship, a title shot could only be two or three wins away.
Current champion Leon Edwards has looked sensational at the top and MVP eventually wants an all-British title fight against 'Rocky' on home soil.
He doesn't see his compatriot being knocked off his perch anytime soon.
'I personally think Leon has hit that stride of many different athletes, where they're just on that win, they're in a flow, a state where they've hit a beautiful part of their career where it feels like they're almost untouchable,' Page explained.
'I think he's hit that. There's amazing guys and athletes within the division but I do feel he's caught a nice flow state in that division and he'll have that for a little while... until I get there!'
![MVP is a showman and will be keen to show the new fans what he is about in Miami](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/07/11/81841501-13168483-MVP_is_a_showman_and_will_be_keen_to_show_the_new_fans_what_he_i-a-23_1709810177742.jpg)
MVP is a showman and will be keen to show the new fans what he is about in Miami
Those interested in MMA have long been aware of Page's skills but a UFC pay-per-view card opens the door to a much wider, casual audience.
So what can they expect from an MVP fight?
'MVP is just unique,' he says. 'It is stuff you haven't seen before. You can call on similarities with maybe one other fighter to be fair in Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, but I have an added flair to it as well.
'For me, the show starts not when the bell rings but when I'm walking in towards the cage. The show finishes when I leave the cage and how I exit. I've got so many attributes that people don't have.
'I'm a complete package, showman, entertaining but also a dynamic fighter so just tune in, there's nothing else to say. Tune in and enjoy.'
Michael Venom’ Page takes on Kevin Holland on March 9h live on UFC Fight Pass and TNT Sports 1 at UFC® 299: O’Malley vs. Vera 2