Big John McCarthy believes MVP’s ‘best years are ahead of him’

Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

“In my opinion, MVP’s best years are ahead of him as he is a very young and healthy 32 who will be fighting for many more years.”

At 32-years-old, Bellator welterweight talent Michael Page is no spring chicken.

Despite having fought under the Bellator banner for over five years, ‘Venom’ has never fought for the promotion’s welterweight title and has been criticized for fighting overmatched opponents.

The criticism reached its peak during Saturday night’s Bellator London II broadcast, where ‘MVP’ earned a first round, highlight reel knockout of Bellator newcomer Giovanni Melillo (13-5 MMA) in the main event.

Page’s lone loss in MMA comes to newly-crowned Bellator welterweight champ Douglas Lima, who KO’d the London Shootfighter earlier this year in the the Bellator 221 main event.

Despite his KO loss to Lima and what some fans have called a padded MMA record, former referee Big John McCarthy believes Page’s best years are ahead of him.

“I totally agree with you Bobby, but he is still young and in his 17 fight MMA career he has only been damaged once. He is already a star, and only bigger moments lay ahead for him,” McCarthy wrote on Twitter.

“Yes, I know that. I have kids older than that. A fighters best years depend upon damage received. In my opinion, MVP’s best years are ahead of him as he is a very young and healthy 32 who will be fighting for many more years,” the Bellator commentator posted in response to a fan pointing out MVP’s age.

Prior to his fight against Melillo, Page called for a rematch with Lima. The former kickboxing champion says he was ‘dominating’ Lima up until the KO and believes the rematch will be ‘bittersweet’.