1. Early Life and Background
Michael "Venom" Page's early life was deeply rooted in martial arts, influenced by his family's background and his upbringing in London.
1.1. Childhood and Family
Page was born in St Mary's Hospital, London to Curtis Page Sr. and Pauline Reece. His father, a British Telecom employee, was from Trinidad, and his mother, a nurse, was from Jamaica. Both of Page's parents were practitioners of Lau Gar Kung Fu. His maternal uncle, Stan Brown, a Lau Gar Master, also instructed his father. Page has nine siblings, three of whom are adopted. He attended Quintin Kynaston School in St John's Wood, London, alongside Olympian judoka Ashley McKenzie. He grew up in the NW8 district near Edgware Road and Lisson Green before moving to the W10 area near Queen's Park in 2003. Given that almost every member of his family was involved in martial arts, Page found it natural to follow their path.
1.2. Early Martial Arts Training and Influences
Page began training in Lau Gar Kung Fu at the tender age of three and participated in his first kickboxing tournament at the age of five. By the age of eight, he started to dedicate himself fully to competition, entering his first international tournament in Germany. Growing up, Page found significant inspiration in martial arts films, particularly those starring iconic figures such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Lee, and Sammo Hung. His father, Curtis Page Sr., served as his primary instructor throughout his early martial arts journey.
2. Kickboxing Career
Michael "Venom" Page built an extensive and highly successful career in kickboxing, achieving numerous amateur world championships before transitioning to professional combat sports.
2.1. Amateur Achievements
Page achieved remarkable success in amateur kickboxing, securing ten world championships. His first world title came at the US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships in 1998, held in Orlando, Florida, when he was just 12 years old. He also earned the title of British champion over 25 times. By the age of 13, Page began competing in adult divisions. His rigorous training regimen involved five hours a day, five days a week. During tournament days, he often competed in up to 14 fights, sometimes across three weight classes, and on one occasion, he fought 22 times in a single day across five different weight classes.
His notable amateur victories include:
- A gold medal at the W.A.K.O. World Championships 2007 (Coimbra) in the 196 lb (89 kg) semi-contact division, where he defeated Dave Heffernan.
- A gold medal at the W.A.K.O. Austrian Classics Worldcup 2008 in Kufstein, winning the 185 lb (84 kg) semi-contact division against Krisztián Jároszkievicz.
- Silver at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2008 in Dublin, losing to Raymond Daniels.
- Double gold at the W.A.K.O. Austrian Classics Worldcup 2009 in Walchsee, winning both the 185 lb (84 kg) light-contact and semi-contact divisions against Bojan Miskovic and Zvonimir Gribl, respectively.
- Silver at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2009 in Dublin, again defeated by Raymond Daniels.
- As the WKA Head Coach, he led a team to the WKA World Championships 2009 in Huelva, where he claimed gold in the organization's first semi-contact prize competition by defeating James Benjamin Stewart, and a bronze in the 198 lb (90 kg) light-contact division after a loss to Tarek Haydar.
- A silver medal at the W.A.K.O. World Championships 2009 in Lignano Sabbiadoro, losing to Krisztián Jároszkievicz in the 185 lb (84 kg) semi-contact division.
- A silver medal at the 2010 World Combat Games in Beijing in the 185 lb (84 kg) semi-contact division, where he again lost to Krisztián Jároszkievicz for the gold.
- Another silver medal at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2011 in Dublin, once more facing Raymond Daniels in the 185 lb (84 kg) semi-contact division.
Page was scouted by the Great Britain Taekwondo team for a potential path to the Olympics but declined the opportunity to pursue a professional combat sports career in kickboxing and mixed martial arts. When not competing, Page also works as a kickboxing instructor at the Hands Down Martial Arts Academies in Surrey.
2.2. Professional Kickboxing Fights
Michael Page's professional kickboxing record includes a notable fight at UCMMA 29 on August 18, 2012. He was originally slated to challenge UCMMA UK-1 welterweight champion Peter Irving, but Irving withdrew due to a neck injury. After three other opponents also pulled out, Page faced Jefferson George. Page secured a victory by knocking out George with a two-punch combination in the second round, marking his professional kickboxing debut.
3. Mixed Martial Arts Career
Michael "Venom" Page transitioned into mixed martial arts, where he gained significant prominence through his unique fighting style and impressive knockout victories in major promotions like Bellator MMA and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
3.1. Transition to MMA
Page decided to transition into mixed martial arts due to dissatisfaction with the limited exposure and political complexities he encountered within various kickboxing associations. He sought a broader platform for his combat sports career. Initially, he considered joining American Top Team because his older siblings resided in Miami, but ultimately chose to begin his MMA journey with London Shootfighters in July 2011. Page dedicates up to seven hours a day to training and cross-trains Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Gracie Barra. He is represented by Paradigm Sports Management.
3.2. Early Promotions (UCMMA, SFL)
Page commenced his professional MMA career with impactful performances in early promotions.
His MMA debut took place at UCMMA 26 on February 4, 2012, against Ben Dishman. He secured a technical knockout victory in the first round with a spectacular tornado kick. The fight quickly went viral, leading to comparisons between Page and renowned fighter Anderson Silva. For this bout, Page received 200 GBP. On April 7, 2012, at UCMMA 27, Page faced Miguel Bernard in a 176 lb (176 lb) catchweight bout, despite weighing in at 165 lb (165 lb). He won in the first round by forcing Bernard to tap out after transitioning from a triangle choke into an armbar.
On June 24, 2012, Super Fight League (SFL) announced that they had signed Page to an exclusive 18-month, four-fight contract. He made his SFL debut as the main event at SFL 7 on November 2, 2012, against Haitham El-Sayed, winning by technical knockout in the first round due to a doctor stoppage caused by cuts. Page returned to SFL on April 12, 2013, to face Ramdan Mohamed at SFL 15, again in the main event, and secured a victory via rear-naked choke in the first round. His contract with Super Fight League concluded on December 19, 2014.
3.3. Bellator MMA
Page's tenure with Bellator MMA marked a significant period in his career, where he became one of the promotion's most recognizable and exciting fighters, known for his highlight-reel knockouts and unique style.
Page signed a five-fight contract with Bellator MMA in August 2012. He was initially scheduled to debut at Bellator 82 but withdrew due to an old injury requiring surgery. His debut eventually took place on March 21, 2013, at Bellator 93, where he faced Ryan Sanders and won by knockout just 10 seconds into the first round. Throughout 2013, Page experienced several fight cancellations due to injuries, including a rib cartilage injury, an ankle injury, and a knee injury.
In 2014, Page was slated to fight Marcus Aurelio at Bellator 120, but Aurelio withdrew due to injury. Ricky Rainey stepped in as a replacement, and Page won via technical knockout in the first round. He then faced Nah-Shon Burrell at Bellator 128 as the co-main event on October 10, 2014, securing a unanimous decision victory. Following this, Page signed an exclusive two-year, five-fight contract extension with Bellator.
In 2015, Page was scheduled to face Curtis Millender at Bellator 134 but withdrew due to a cut above his left eye that required six stitches. He later fought Rudy Bears at Bellator 140 on July 17, 2015, winning by knockout in the first round. At Bellator 144 on October 23, 2015, Page fought Charlie Ontiveros on short notice after several opponents withdrew. He won via verbal submission due to elbows in the first round, which dislocated Ontiveros' jaw.
The year 2016 saw Page continue his impressive run. He was set to fight Fernando Gonzalez at Bellator 151 but withdrew due to a prior commitment to officiate as a coach at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2016. Page defeated Jeremie Holloway at Bellator 153 on April 22, 2016, submitting him with an Estima lock in the first round. His rescheduled fight with Fernando Gonzalez for Bellator 158 was again affected by visa issues for Gonzalez. Page then fought Evangelista Santos at Bellator 158 on July 16, 2016, winning by knocking out Santos with a spectacular flying knee in the second round. Santos required surgery for a depressed frontal sinus fracture after the fight. The knockout and Page's subsequent Pokémon Go-inspired celebration went viral. Page fought Fernando Gonzalez on November 19, 2016, at Bellator 165, winning the fight via split decision.
In 2017, a highly anticipated bout between Page and Paul Daley was targeted for Bellator 179, but negotiations fell through as Daley opted to fight Rory MacDonald. Page was then scheduled to fight Derek Anderson but was forced off the card due to lingering knee and neck injuries. Despite this, Daley attempted to instigate a brawl with Page cageside after his own fight. Another proposed fight with Daley in September 2017 was also turned down by Daley.
3.3.1. Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix Tournament
Page participated in the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix Tournament. In the quarter-final on February 16, 2019, at Bellator 216, he faced his rival Paul Daley. Despite a tactical and often uneventful fight where neither fighter mounted significant offense, Page won by unanimous decision, advancing to the semi-finals. His father had passed away shortly before this fight on December 26, 2018.
In the semi-final of the tournament on May 11, 2019, at Bellator 221, Page faced former two-time Bellator Welterweight World Champion Douglas Lima. Despite some initial success, Page suffered his first professional loss, being knocked out in the second round by Lima.
3.3.2. Key Bellator Fights and Performances
Beyond the Grand Prix, Page had numerous memorable performances in Bellator. On May 25, 2018, at Bellator 200, he fought David Rickels as the co-main event. Page won the fight via verbal submission in the second round due to a punch that opened a severe cut above Rickels' left eye. During this period, Page paid tribute to his cousin, Helena Ramsay, a victim of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. On July 30, 2018, Page signed a new six-fight contract with Bellator, which included provisions for him to compete in boxing, subject to Bellator's approval.
After his Grand Prix run, Page faced Richard Kiely at Bellator 227 on September 27, 2019, winning by knockout with a flying knee in the first round. He was then expected to headline Bellator London 2 against Derek Anderson on November 23, 2019, but Anderson withdrew. Page instead fought Giovanni Melillo and secured a first-round knockout victory. On December 29, 2019, Page fought Shinsho Anzai at Bellator & Rizin: Japan in a 173 lb (173 lb) catchweight bout, winning by knockout in the second round. Page had personally requested to fight in Japan due to his fondness for Japanese culture and anime.
On October 10, 2020, Page faced Ross Houston at Bellator 248, winning the bout via unanimous decision in a fight that drew boos from the crowd due to Houston's conservative approach. Page faced Derek Anderson for a third time at Bellator 258 on May 7, 2021. In the first round, Page broke and flattened Anderson's nose with a kick, leading to a doctor stoppage between rounds, resulting in a TKO victory. This win marked Page's 10th stoppage victory in the Bellator Welterweight division, setting a new record.
Page faced Douglas Lima in a highly anticipated rematch on October 1, 2021, at Bellator 267, which was Bellator's first event in the UK since the COVID-19 pandemic. Page won the bout via split decision, successfully avenging his previous loss to Lima.
On May 13, 2022, Page was scheduled to fight for the Bellator Welterweight World Championship against reigning champion Yaroslav Amosov at Bellator 281. However, Amosov withdrew to fight in the Russo-Ukrainian War and was replaced by Logan Storley. The bout was then contested for the interim Bellator Welterweight World Championship, which Page lost via split decision.
Page faced Goiti Yamauchi on March 10, 2023, at Bellator 292. He won the fight via TKO less than thirty seconds into the first round after a single leg kick from Page caused Yamauchi to suffer a knee injury. Page announced his free agency on July 17, 2023.
3.4. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
In December 2023, it was announced that Michael Page had signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) following his free agency.
Page made his highly anticipated UFC debut against Kevin Holland on March 9, 2024, at UFC 299. He secured a victory by unanimous decision, showcasing his distinctive style on the biggest stage in MMA. On June 29, 2024, Page faced Ian Garry at UFC 303. Despite having an advantage in striking, he faced difficulties on the ground and ultimately lost the fight by unanimous decision in a close contest. Page is scheduled to return to the middleweight division to face Sharabutdin Magomedov on February 1, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 250. He won the fight by unanimous decision, marking Magomedov's first professional MMA loss.
4. Boxing Career
Michael "Venom" Page embarked on a professional boxing career while still active in MMA, signing with a prominent promotional company and showcasing his striking skills in the squared circle.
4.1. Professional Boxing Debut and Record
On July 12, 2017, Page announced he had signed a three-year, fifteen-fight contract with Hayemaker Ringstar, a joint promotional venture founded by David Haye and Richard Schaefer. He began training under the tutelage of Ismael Salas at Hayemaker HQ on July 27, 2017, alongside other notable boxers such as Joe Joyce, Qais Ashfaq, and Willy Hutchinson. While maintaining his training at London Shootfighters, he dedicated four days a week to boxing training at Hayemaker HQ. Page described the transition from MMA to boxing as akin to a "sprinter turning into a long distance runner." He also provided commentary for the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor fight in Las Vegas for BBC Radio 5 Live.
Page made his professional boxing debut on October 20, 2017, at Hayemaker Ringstar Fight Night, in the co-main event against Jonathan Castano. He secured a victory via technical knockout in the third round. He was initially slated to debut on the undercard of Haye vs. Bellew but was still in negotiations with Bellator at the time. Page wanted to fight at Hayemaker Ringstar Fight Night 2 on February 16, 2018, but Bellator required an MMA fight before allowing him another boxing commitment. Similarly, Bellator prevented him from competing on the undercard of Haye vs. Bellew II due to its proximity to Bellator 200. Page fought Michal Ciach at Hayemaker Ringstar Fight Night 3 on June 15, 2018, winning by knockout in the second round.
5. Bare-knuckle Boxing Career
In June 2022, it was announced that Page would make his bare-knuckle boxing debut for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. He competed against Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Mike Perry on August 20, 2022, in the main event of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 27: London. Page lost the bout by majority decision after the sixth round, following the first five rounds being declared a split draw.
6. Professional Grappling Career
Michael Page has also ventured into professional grappling competitions, demonstrating his skills beyond striking-focused disciplines. He faced Carlos Condit in the main event of Polaris 30 on November 2, 2024. Page won the match by decision, showcasing his ability in submission grappling.
7. Fighting Style
Michael "Venom" Page is renowned for his unique and often flamboyant fighting style, which he describes as a "hands down kickboxing style." This approach is a "mishmash" of techniques derived from Taekwondo, Karate, and Kung Fu, adapted from a points scoring ruleset.
As a low-volume, movement-based fighter, Page's strategy centers on controlling distance and delivering powerful counterstrikes with exceptional accuracy. He heavily relies on his elusive movement and knockout power to finish opponents. Page often incorporates histrionics and showmanship during his fights, which he states helps him maintain focus, unnerve his opponents, and engage the crowd. He credits his parents, along with Simon Lewis and Marvin Francis, as the most influential figures in the development of his distinctive combat sports career.
8. Personal Life
Michael "Venom" Page's personal life reflects his deep family ties and unique choices outside the cage. His nickname, "Venom," was given to him by fellow kickboxer Marvin Francis, as an homage to the classic martial arts film Five Deadly Venoms. Page is a passionate supporter of Manchester United F.C.. In August 2017, he adopted a pollo-pescetarian diet, primarily consisting of plant-based foods, poultry, and fish. His father passed away on December 26, 2018. Page also has a personal connection to the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, as his cousin, Helena Ramsay, was a victim of the tragedy.
9. Championships and Accomplishments
Michael "Venom" Page has accumulated numerous titles and accolades across his diverse combat sports career, reflecting his dominance and impact in kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and other disciplines.
9.1. Kickboxing Championships
- World Combat Games
- 2010 World Combat Games Silver Medalist (Semi-Contact)
- World Association of Kickboxing Organizations
- 2011 W.A.K.O. Irish Open Silver Medalist (Semi-Contact)
- 2009 W.A.K.O. World Championships Silver Medalist (Semi-Contact)
- 2009 W.A.K.O. Irish Open Silver Medalist (Semi-Contact)
- 2009 W.A.K.O. Austrian Classics Worldcup Gold Medalist (Light Contact)
- 2009 W.A.K.O. Austrian Classics Worldcup Gold Medalist (Semi-Contact)
- 2008 W.A.K.O. Irish Open Silver Medalist (Semi-Contact)
- 2008 W.A.K.O. Austrian Classics Worldcup Gold Medalist (Semi-Contact)
- 2007 W.A.K.O. World Championships Gold Medalist (Semi-Contact)
- World Kickboxing Association
- 2009 WKA World Championships Bronze Medalist (Light Contact)
- 2009 WKA World Championships Gold Medalist (Semi-Contact)
- International Sport Karate Association
- 1998 US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships Gold Medalist (Semi-Contact)
9.2. Mixed Martial Arts Accolades
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC.com Awards: 2024 Ranked #10 Newcomer of the Year
- Bellator MMA
- Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix Semifinalist
- Most stoppage victories in Bellator Welterweight division history (10)
- Most knockout victories in Bellator Welterweight division history (9)
- Tied with Patricky Pitbull for most knockout victories in Bellator history (11)
- Fourth most wins in Bellator history (17)
- Tied with Douglas Lima for second most wins in Bellator Welterweight division history (14)
- World MMA Awards
- 2016 Knockout of the Year (vs. Evangelista Santos at Bellator 158)
- MMAjunkie
- 2016 July Knockout of the Month (vs. Evangelista Santos)
- 2016 Knockout of the Year (vs. Evangelista Santos)
- 2023 March Knockout of the Month (vs. Goiti Yamauchi)
- Sherdog
- Sherdog's Top 10: Greatest Single Strikes in MMA History (No. 4) (vs. Evangelista Santos)
- Sherdog's Top 10: Bellator MMA Knockouts (No. 2) (vs. Evangelista Santos)
- 2016 Knockout of the Year (vs. Evangelista Santos)
- theScore
- MMA's most devastating knockouts of 2016 (No. 1) (vs. Evangelista Santos)
- Bleacher Report
- 2016 Knockout of the Year (vs. Evangelista Santos)
10. Professional Records
10.1. Mixed Martial Arts Record
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 23-3 | Sharabutdin Magomedov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov | February 1, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Return to Middleweight. |
| Loss | 22-3 | Ian Machado Garry | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 303 | June 29, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 22-2 | Kevin Holland | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 299 | March 9, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 21-2 | Goiti Yamauchi | TKO (leg kick) | Bellator 292 | March 10, 2023 | 1 | 0:26 | San Jose, California, United States | |
| Loss | 20-2 | Logan Storley | Decision (split) | Bellator 281 | May 13, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | London, England | For the interim Bellator Welterweight World Championship. |
| Win | 20-1 | Douglas Lima | Decision (split) | Bellator 267 | October 1, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 19-1 | Derek Anderson | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Bellator 258 | May 7, 2021 | 1 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Catchweight (175 lb (175 lb)) bout. |
| Win | 18-1 | Ross Houston | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 248 | October 10, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Paris, France | Catchweight (175 lb (175 lb)) bout. |
| Win | 17-1 | Shinsho Anzai | KO (punch) | Bellator 237 | December 29, 2019 | 2 | 0:23 | Saitama, Japan | Catchweight (173 lb (173 lb)) bout. |
| Win | 16-1 | Giovanni Melillo | KO (punch) | Bellator London 2 | November 23, 2019 | 1 | 1:47 | London, England | |
| Win | 15-1 | Richard Kiely | KO (flying knee) | Bellator 227 | September 27, 2019 | 1 | 2:42 | Dublin, Ireland | |
| Loss | 14-1 | Douglas Lima | KO (punches) | Bellator 221 | May 13, 2019 | 2 | 0:35 | Rosemont, Illinois, United States | Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix Semifinal. |
| Win | 14-0 | Paul Daley | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 216 | February 16, 2019 | 5 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 13-0 | David Rickels | TKO (retirement) | Bellator 200 | May 25, 2018 | 2 | 0:43 | London, England | |
| Win | 12-0 | Fernando Gonzalez | Decision (split) | Bellator 165 | November 19, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | San Jose, California, United States | |
| Win | 11-0 | Evangelista Santos | KO (flying knee) | Bellator 158 | July 16, 2016 | 2 | 4:31 | London, England | |
| Win | 10-0 | Jeremie Holloway | Submission (achilles lock) | Bellator 153 | April 22, 2016 | 1 | 2:15 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 9-0 | Charlie Ontiveros | TKO (elbows) | Bellator 144 | October 23, 2015 | 1 | 3:20 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 8-0 | Rudy Bears | KO (punch) | Bellator 140 | July 17, 2015 | 1 | 1:05 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 7-0 | Nah-Shon Burrell | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 128 | October 10, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 6-0 | Ricky Rainey | TKO (punch) | Bellator 120 | May 17, 2014 | 1 | 4:29 | Southaven, Mississippi, United States | Return to Welterweight. |
| Win | 5-0 | Ramdan Mohamed | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Super Fight League 15 | April 12, 2013 | 1 | 3:48 | Mumbai, India | Middleweight debut. |
| Win | 4-0 | Ryan Sanders | KO (punch) | Bellator 93 | March 21, 2013 | 1 | 0:10 | Lewiston, Maine, United States | |
| Win | 3-0 | Haitham El-Sayed | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Super Fight League 7 | November 2, 2012 | 1 | 2:15 | Mumbai, India | |
| Win | 2-0 | Miguel Bernard | Submission (armbar) | UCMMA 27 | April 7, 2012 | 1 | 1:43 | London, England | Catchweight (176 lb (176 lb)) bout; Bernard missed weight. |
| Win | 1-0 | Ben Dishman | TKO (tornado kick) | UCMMA 26 | February 4, 2012 | 1 | 1:05 | London, England | Welterweight debut. |
10.2. Boxing Record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Win | 2-0 | Michal Ciach | KO | 2 (4), 0:18 | June 15, 2018 | York Hall, London, England | |
| 1 | Win | 1-0 | Jonathan Castaño | TKO | 3 (4), 2:15 | October 20, 2017 | Indigo at The O2, London, England |
10.3. Kickboxing Record
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1-0 | Jefferson George | KO (punch) | UCMMA 29 | August 18, 2012 | 2 | 2:04 | London, United Kingdom | Cage fight with MMA gloves (K-1 rules). |
10.4. Bare-knuckle Boxing Record
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0-1 | Mike Perry | Decision (majority) | BKFC 27: London | August 20, 2022 | 6 | 2:00 | London, England | The first five rounds went to a split draw. |