B/R Exclusive: Michael “Venom” Page Reflects on Long and Winding Road to UFC

Michael “Venom” Page admits there were times in his combat sports career that he doubted he would ever make it to the UFC. “For the last couple of years, I…

Michael “Venom” Page admits there were times in his combat sports career that he doubted he would ever make it to the UFC. “For the last couple of years, I…

UFC 299 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks

UFC 299 is set for this Saturday in Miami, and it will surely go down as one of the best cards of the year. It is absolutely stacked from to bottom—so much so…

UFC 299 is set for this Saturday in Miami, and it will surely go down as one of the best cards of the year. It is absolutely stacked from to bottom—so much so…

Ranking the Best Fights from UFC 299 and 300

UFC 300 is all anybody can talk about these days, and it makes sense. UFC 100 and 200 were two of the biggest events in the promotion’s history, featuring…

UFC 300 is all anybody can talk about these days, and it makes sense. UFC 100 and 200 were two of the biggest events in the promotion’s history, featuring…

Michael Page remains close betting underdog to beat Kevin Holland in Octagon debut at UFC 299 in March

Michael Page calls for welterweight top 5 fight if he makes UFC move I'm readyAhead of his incoming Octagon bow at UFC 299 in March, former Bellator MMA welterweight title challenger, Michael Page…

Michael Page calls for welterweight top 5 fight if he makes UFC move I'm ready

Ahead of his incoming Octagon bow at UFC 299 in March, former Bellator MMA welterweight title challenger, Michael Page remains a close betting underdog to beat divisional contender, Kevin Holland in his first promotional walk.

Page, a former undisputed Bellator MMA welterweight championship challenger, penned a multi-fight deal with the Dana White-led, UFC before the turn of the year following months of speculation linking him with a move, following a career-long stay with Bellator MMA.

Riding a win into his Octagon debut, London Shootfighters staple, Michael Page most recently landed a TKO win over Goiti Yamauchi via a series of early leg kicks back in March of last year, returning to the winner’s enclosure following a split decision loss to Logan Storley in the pair’s interim title fight clash.

Michael Page underdog to win in UFC 299 debut

And making his Octagon debut at UFC 299 in March, Page is currently riding a +114 betting underdog line to beat Riverside striker, Holland, who himself is drawing in an impressive +130 line to date.

Landing on a massive UFC 299 flagship event in Florida, MiamiHerald’s review of ‘The Sunshine State’ card sure to provide fans an in-depth look back on what promises to be on the of the biggest and most high-profile cards of the year already. 

Making his return to the Octagon in March, Holland, a former top-contender at the middleweight limit, Holland’s most recent outing saw him suffer a close, split decision loss to Jack Della Maddalena last year at Noche UFC – snapping his impressive two-fight winning run at the welterweight limit. 

Already making significant plans for his fighting future in the Octagon, Page has set sights on landing a pair of victories at the welterweight limit – starting at UFC 299 in March, before selling out a stadium show in the UK, in a championship chase against compatriot, Leon Edwards.

“It’s an absolutely massive fight,” Michael Page said of a fight between himself and Leon Edwards. “It makes a statement to where the U.K. artists are at this stage of MMA in the world. The U.K. guys are doing so well. You just have to look across at Tom Aspinall doing his thing as well as heavyweight. The fact that we can get two U.K. guys to headline a main event in the U.K. is unbelievable for a belt. Like I said, unheard of. Let’s make it happen.”

“… I want to be big knockout, big knockout, and let’s go for the belt,” Michael Page continued. “Hopefully, Leon’s still got the belt. I definitely believe that he can still have the belt. We can sell out a stadium, we can make so much noise together and sell out a stadium in the U.K. and just bring an untold story to the UFC.”

Renowned for some of the most devastating stoppage wins in Bellator MMA history, Michael Page has turned in memorable wins over the likes of Evangelista Santos, Shinzho Anzai, and Derek Anderson, as well as landing a close split decision win over former titleholder, Douglas Lima, avening his first professional mixed martial arts loss.

Video – UFC star Kevin Holland shows off Hilarious Ian Garry ‘Wagged’ T-Shirt during recent training session

Kevin Holland and Ian GarryKevin Holland is gearing up for a return to the Octagon at UFC 299 in March. ‘Trailblazer’ will welcome…

Kevin Holland and Ian Garry

Kevin Holland is gearing up for a return to the Octagon at UFC 299 in March.

‘Trailblazer’ will welcome former Bellator MMA standout Michael ‘Venom’ Page to the UFC when the promotion returns to Kaseya Arena in sunny Miami, Florida. Offering fans a glimpse into his training camp, Holland showed off his training attire which featured a t-shirt brandishing a headshot of rising Irish contender Ian Garry with the word ‘Wagged’ underneath.

In July, Garry came under fire when he started selling t-shirts featuring the mugshot of his originally scheduled UFC 292 opponent, Geoff Neal.

Kevin Holland and other UFC Fighters continue to pour it on Ian Garry

Since then, ‘The Future’ has been lambasted by fans and fighters alike, most of it surrounding his unconventional marriage to Layla Anna-Lee. 14 years older than Garry, Anna-Lee wrote a book more than a decade ago entitled How to Be a WAG. Described by Garry and his wife as satire, the 11-page publication offered advice to older women looking to date young athletes and celebrities.

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland went straight for the jugular, calling Anna-Lee a “succubus” and “predator” in a series of scathing videos on social media. Multiple fighters have since jumped on the bandwagon, including Colby Covington and, of course, Kevin Holland.

Garry was scheduled to appear at the promotion’s final pay-per-view of 2023, but he withdrew hours before the event due to pneumonia. However, many questioned the timing of his withdrawal given all the backlash he had endured over the weeks leading up to his clash with Vicente Luque.

The Irishman is expected to return at UFC 298 in February against the man he was set to scrap with in August, Geoff Neal.

Breaking – Michael Page set for Octagon debut, books UFC 299 fight with Kevin Holland in Miami

Michael Page set to fight Kevin Holland at UFC 299 next March in MiamiFormer Bellator MMA welterweight title challenger, Michael Page has officially put pen to paper on a move to the…

Michael Page set to fight Kevin Holland at UFC 299 next March in Miami

Former Bellator MMA welterweight title challenger, Michael Page has officially put pen to paper on a move to the UFC – and according to promotional president, Dana White, the British striker will debut in March of next year in Miami, Florida, taking on fan-favorite contender, Kevin Holland at UFC 299 at the Kaseya Arena.

Page, a former Bellator MMA welterweight title challenger, has long been linked with a move to the UFC – as well as the PFL, recently facing off with French mixed martial arts star, Cedric Doumbe in the promotion’s SmartCage, amid links to a potential move to the North American-based promotion.

Michael Page set to make UFC debut against Kevin Holland

However, following the culmination of UFC 296 tonight in Las Vegas, promotional boss, White confirmed the signing of London Shootfighters staple, Page, as well as confirming his debut against Riverside striker, Holland at UFC 299 in March of next year. 

Sidelined since he featured at Bellator 292 back in March of this year, Page most recently turned in a TKO via leg kicks win over Goiti Yamauchi inside just 32-seconds in the pair’s welterweight clash.

As for Holland, the former middleweight contender has been out of action since he suffered a split decision loss to Jack Della Maddalena at Noche UFC back in September of this year, snapping a two-fight winning run over both Santiago Ponzinibbio, and Michael Chiesa.

UFC 299 takes place on March 9. from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, with an undisputed bantamweight title fight between champion, Sean O’Malley, and Marlon Vera slated to take main event honors. 

Who wins at UFC 299 next March: Michael Page or Kevin Holland?