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Michael Page will now take on Giovanni Melillo at Bellator London after Derek Anderson was forced to pull out of the bout due to injury.
Bellator fan favorite Michael ‘Venom’ Page — otherwise known as MVP — has accepted a short notice replacement fight against Giovanni Melillo after it was revealed that Derek Anderson had pulled out of Bellator London just one week out from the event. Standard Sport confirmed the news on Friday.
Page (15-1 MMA) will look to keep the momentum going following his highlight reel flying knee knockout of Richard Kiely at Bellator 227. The London Shootfighter is gunning for a rematch with newly-crowned Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima, who KO’d Page earlier this year in the Bellator 221 co-main event at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
Speaking of his new matchup against Melillo (13-4 MMA), who will be making his Bellator debut against Page, MVP said he is in the best shape of his career and will be looking to put on a show for the fans.
“This is the best I have ever felt in training, this is the fittest I have ever been,” Page told Standard Sport. “I’ve been smashing it on the machines, hitting all my personal bests. I’m sparring exceptionally well, I feel too good to really care who is across the cage from me. I just feel sorry for whoever it is.”
Bellator London II takes place next Saturday, Nov. 23 at the SSE Arena in Page’s hometown of London, England.