Lethal Bellator welterweight Michael “Venom” Page just competed in an MMA cage at May 25’s Bellator 200, but that didn’t stop him from picking up a second straight knockout in boxing.
After finishing longtime vet David Rickels via brutal retirement, the flashy British star has an unbeaten 13-0 record in MMA, and he improved to an undefeated 2-0 in boxing today. The rising star made his boxing debut in October 2017 with a third-round TKO of Jonathan Castano.
Taking on Michal Clach in a light heavyweight bout from York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom, Page knocked Clach down in the first round and then stopped the fight with a missile-like right hand at the very start of the second frame.
Watch the full fight courtesy of Boxing Pride on YouTube here:
The return of Bellator fan favourite Michael ‘Venom’ Page has been highly anticipated since his bout at Bellator 200 was announced, and Page did not disappoint. Page came to Wembley Arena to put on a show and he proved yet again why he is c…
The return of Bellator fan favourite Michael ‘Venom’ Page has been highly anticipated since his bout at Bellator 200 was announced, and Page did not disappoint. Page came to Wembley Arena to put on a show and he proved yet again why he is considered one of the best entertainers in the sport of mixed […]
The biggest knock on Bellator welterweight prospect Michael “Venom” Page has been the level of competition he’s faced thus far, but MVP made a huge leap forward on Friday after dispatching David “The Caveman” Rickels in the second round of today’s (May 25, 2018) Bellator 200 from the SSE Arena in London, England.
MVP dominated the first round, nearly landing a spinning head kick towards the end of the first, which Rickels deflected and taunted the notorious show-boater for missing the kick.
Rickels is by far the biggest win in MVP’s career, and “Venom” destroyed “The Caveman” to the point where Rickels verbally submitted early into round two after taking a big punch that hurt his eye, rendering him unable to see:
When asked who he wants next by commentator and former MMA referee “Big John” McCarthy, MVP was nonchalant and stated that he wants to fight “everyone”. Fights with fellow British striker Paul Daley and current Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald have been simmering for quite some time now, so MVP has some interesting options as far as future Bellator opponents go.
Although it lost its original main event – a scheduled rematch between legendary heavyweights Roy “Big Country” Nelson and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, – Bellator 200, which is set to take place Friday (May 25, 2018) from the SSE Arena in London, England still features some intriguing bouts.
In the main event, middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho will defend his title against former DREAM and Strikeforce titleholder Gegard Mousasi in a five-round fight.
The co-main event, meanwhile, will play host to a welterweight bout between Michael ‘Venom’ Page, who will return from a long layoff due to injury, and David Rickels.
Also on the main card, former light heavyweight champion Phil Davis will take on Linton Vassell.
Without further ado, let’s take a deeper look into Bellator 200’s marquee fights.
Rafael Carvalho vs. Gegard Mousasi
In this main event, 185-pound champion Rafael Carvalho will look to make his fourth consecutive defense of the Bellator 185-pound title, but he’ll attempt to do so against the toughest test of his career in veteran Gegard Mousasi, who’s riding a six-fight winning streak that features four T/KO victories.
Stylistically, Carvalho is quite a well-rounded fighter who has won 15 straight bouts since losing his professional debut in 2011. On the feet, the Brazilian is a lengthy southpaw who likes to use range to incorporate a Muay Thai style attack that includes various kicks and body shots. He’s also improved his boxing and footwork over the years.
In terms of grappling, Carvalho isn’t known for his submission game, but he has shown improvements in his defense in this department. He has a solid scrambling ability and can be dangerous in the clinch as well where he likes to attack with knees and elbows.
Moving on to Mousasi, the 32-year old is an incredibly well-rounded fighter. With experience in both kickboxing and boxing, Mousasi, who possesses a tremendous jab, is extremely technical and accurate with his strikes, which has allowed him to pick opponents apart in the striking department.
He’s also shown a great sense of distance, which will likely aid him in this bout in addition to having fight-ending power, as 23 of his victories have come via stoppage due to strikes. And despite being primarily known for his striking, Mousasi’s grappling acumen can’t be overlooked. His wrestling has improved over the years and he’s shown a great knack for changing levels to land a takedown.
Also possessing a background in Judo, Mousasi is well-versed in clinch and ground fighting and I’d argue that is submission game is, at times, very overlooked, as 12 of his professional victories have come via submission.
Ultimately, I see Carvalho as a talented champion who hasn’t necessarily received the credit he deserves. He has a real chance to score an upset here, but in the end, I feel as if Mousasi is on another level.
The Dutch fighter is far more experienced, has faced better competition and, in my opinion, is simply the more technical and talented fighter. He’s had some mishaps throughout his career when he didn’t appear to show up in top form and he didn’t perform at his best in his Bellator debut, but I expect him to get the job done here.
Prediction: Gegard Mousasi def. Rafael Carvalho via third-round TKO
Conor McGregor is the most famous name in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and as such, currently carries the tag of the fighter with the most “call-outs” in the sport. While most fighters who take the initiative in calling out the UFC lightweight champion of the world get as much as a response from “The Notorious”, […]
Conor McGregor is the most famous name in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and as such, currently carries the tag of the fighter with the most “call-outs” in the sport. While most fighters who take the initiative in calling out the UFC lightweight champion of the world get as much as a response from “The Notorious”, […]
Michael Page’s troll game is strong… After UFC veteran Paul Daley’s explosive KO win over Brennan Ward, the possibility of a fantastic fight became reality. “Semtex” shattered Ward’s eye socket with a brutal flying knee at Bellator 170, scoring his 39th career win. Although Daley had dropped his previous fight, overall he’s gone 16-5 since
After UFC veteran Paul Daley’s explosive KO win over Brennan Ward, the possibility of a fantastic fight became reality. “Semtex” shattered Ward’s eye socket with a brutal flying knee at Bellator 170, scoring his 39th career win. Although Daley had dropped his previous fight, overall he’s gone 16-5 since being dishonorably discharged by the UFC. The sucker punch on Josh Koscheck caused massive controversy at the time. Recently linked to fellow BMMA welterweight Michael “Venom” Page, it looks as though Daley could have a huge opportunity.
Currently 12-0, Page is widely regarded as the hottest prospect on the Bellator roster. Scoring his own flying knee KO against Evangelista Santos at Bellator 158, the kickboxing champion caved in his Brazilian foe’s skull. Reports the promotion were working on Daley vs. Page for an upcoming London show are fuelled by “Venom’s” latest social media activity.
Page Spits Venom At Daley
Rising Bellator welterweight star Michael Page claims he’s signed the contract, and that “Paula” Daley is avoiding him. Trolling “Semtex” over social media, Page urges his countryman to accept the fight:
Looking at the current crop of Bellator welterweights, this would indeed be a great fight. Although, it’s not the only possible scrap for either man. Expanding by the month, Bellator continues to profit from the UFC’s cutting ways.
Rory MacDonald
Former UFC welterweight title challenger Rory MacDonald is still without a fight. Having signed with the promotion following a brief period of free agency, MacDonald joined many other UFC veterans. During his time under the UFC banner, ‘Red King’ spilled blood in one of the most exciting title fights ever, against Robbie Lawler. Following his win over Melvin Guillard, Chidi Njokuani also emerges at 170 pounds. Regarding the recently acquired Josh Koscheck, “Semtex” has admitted he’s “over” that rivalry. Watching BMMA used to be painful, recently though, it’s becoming far more promising.
