He is recognized in the MMA community for his flashy, unorthodox, and vastly explosive (point fighting style), which originated from point styles in likes of "freestyle kickboxing and sport karate," including elements of Kung Fu.[7][8] He has also competed professionally as a kickboxer, boxer and bare-knuckle boxer.
His father, Curtis Page Sr. was his instructor.[18][20] Of his nine siblings, his sister Sefena and brothers Curtis Jr., Jamie, and Kalon are also kickboxing champions.[citation needed]
Page began training in Lau Gar at the age of 3 and competed at his first kickboxing tournament at the age of 5.[21][22][23] By the age of 8, he began to devote himself to competition and entered his first international tournament in Germany.[13][24]
Page won 10 world championships in kickboxing – his first was at the US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships 1998[25] in Orlando, Florida[13] when he was 12 years old[26] – and was crowned British champion over 25 times.[27] By the age of 13, Page started entering adult competitions.[13][19][28] To prepare, he would train five hours a day for five days a week.[29] During tournament days he would often fight up to 14 times due to competing in three weight classes, and at one point fought 22 times in a day across five weight classes.[30] Another world title win was at the W.A.K.O. World Championships 2007 (Coimbra) where, at the −89 kg semi-contact division, he won gold after defeating Dave Heffernan.[31][32] He also competed at the W.A.K.O. Austrian Classics Worldcup 2008 (Kufstein), winning gold in the −84 kg semi-contact division over Krisztián Jároszkievicz.[33][34] Page participated at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2008 (Dublin), earning silver in the −84 kg semi-contact division after falling short to Raymond Daniels.[35] Page then won gold at the W.A.K.O. Austrian Classics Worldcup 2009 (Walchsee), placing first in both the −84 kg light-contact and semi-contact divisions, defeating Bojan Miskovic and Zvonimir Gribl, respectively.[36][37] Page returned to participate in the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2009 (Dublin) but was defeated by Raymond Daniels, placing second in the −84 kg semi-contact division.[38] Page – appointed as the WKA Head Coach[39] – led a team to the WKA World Championships 2009 (Huelva), defeating James Benjamin Stewart to claim gold in the organisation's first semi-contact prize competition[40] and bronze in the −90 kg light-contact division, upon being bested by Tarek Haydar.[2][3] He then participated in the W.A.K.O. World Championships 2009 (Lignano Sabbiadoro) and finished second in the −84 kg semi-contact division, after being defeated by Krisztián Jároszkievicz.[41] On 4 September 2010, he competed at the World Combat Games 2010 (Beijing) in the −84 kg semi-contact division, where he earned silver, losing gold to Krisztián Jároszkievicz.[42][43] Page fought Raymond Daniels at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2011 (Dublin), securing silver in the −84 kg semi-contact division.[8]
Page was scouted by the Great Britain Taekwondo team to train and qualify for the Olympics but turned it down to pursue a professional combat sports career winning a professional kickboxing fight and continuing his journey in mixed martial arts.[44]
When not competing Page trains others in kickboxing, primarily as an instructor at the Hands Down Martial Arts Academies throughout Surrey.[45]
Mixed martial arts career
Background
Dissatisfied with the lack of exposure[46] as well as the politics[47] involved in competing among various kickboxing associations, Page decided to cross over into mixed martial arts.[48][49] He initially considered going to American Top Team[50] during his transition into MMA since his older siblings live in Miami[18] but chose to start his career with London Shootfighters[51] in July 2011.[52] Page spends up to seven hours training in the gym, and does not undergo IV therapy after cutting weight.[53][54] He cross-trains Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Gracie Barra.[55] Page is represented by Paradigm Sports Management.[56][57]
UCMMA
Page made his MMA debut at UCMMA 26 against Ben Dishman on 4 February 2012 and won via technical knockout from a first round tornado kick.[58] His original opponent Sam Boo withdrew a day before the fight.[59][60] The fight went viral and comparisons were drawn between Page and Anderson Silva.[61][62][63] He was paid £200 for the bout.[64]
On 7 April 2012, Page faced Miguel Bernard at UCMMA 27 in a 176 lb catchweight bout despite weighing in at 165 lb.[65] Page won in the first round after forcing Bernard to tap out upon transitioning from a triangle choke into an armbar.[66]
Page briefly returned to kickboxing when he fought in a UK-1 bout on 18 August 2012 at UCMMA 29. Page was supposed to challenge UCMMA UK-1 welterweight champion Peter Irving for the belt.[67][68] However, Irving pulled out of the fight due to a neck injury[12] and was replaced by Jefferson George after another three opponents dropped out within a month for undisclosed reasons.[69][70] Page won after knocking out George from a two punch combination in the second round.[71]
Super Fight League
On 24 June 2012, Super Fight League announced that they signed Michael Page[72] to an exclusive 18-month, four-fight contract.[73]
Page made his promotional debut on 2 November 2012 at SFL 7 as the main event against Haitham El-Sayed, winning by technical knockout in round one via doctor stoppage due to cuts.[74]
Page returned to Super Fight League on 12 April 2013 to face Ramdan Mohamed at SFL 15 as the main event and won via rear-naked choke in the first round.[75]
Bellator MMA
2013
After winning his UK-1 fight against Jefferson George, Page announced that he had signed a five-fight contract with Bellator MMA and that he would fight for Bellator and Super Fight League under their respective contracts.[76][77]
Page was expected to make his promotional debut at Bellator 82 but pulled out of the bout citing surgery for an old injury.[78][79][80] Another potential yet unannounced debut at Bellator 90 against Sean Powers was cancelled for undisclosed reasons.[81]
Page made his debut on 21 March 2013 at Bellator 93.[82] He faced Ryan Sanders and won via knockout at 10 seconds into the first round.[83]
Page was scheduled to fight Kenny Ento at Bellator 102[84] but withdrew due to a rib cartilage injury,[85][86] an ankle injury,[87] and a knee injury.[88] A later appearance slated for Bellator 109 against Andrew Osborne was also cancelled because of lingering injuries.[89]
2014
Page was slated to fight Fight Master: Bellator MMA contestant Marcus Aurelio at Bellator 120 on 17 May 2014 but Aurelio withdrew due to injury.[90][91]Ricky Rainey was immediately sought as a replacement after his Bellator 116 victory[92] and was informed of his opponent a week later.[93] Page won via technical knockout in the first round.[94]
On 19 December 2014, Michael Page confirmed that he was no longer contracted with Super Fight League and instead signed an exclusive two year, five-fight contract extension with Bellator.[14][97]
2015
Page was expected to face Curtis Millender at Bellator 134.[98] However, Page pulled out of the fight due to a cut over his left eye which was sustained during a guard passing drill[99] and required six stitches.[100] He was replaced by Brennan Ward.[101]
Page fought Charlie Ontiveros at Bellator 144 on 23 October 2015 with less than three weeks' notice after four opponents – including his initial opponent Marius Žaromskis[104] and later Cristiano Souza[105] – pulled out of the fight for undisclosed reasons.[106] Page won via verbal submission due to elbows in the first round after dislocating Ontiveros' jaw.[107][108][109]
2016
He was expected to fight Fernando Gonzalez at Bellator 151 as the co-main event[110] but withdrew from the bout as he was already committed to officiate at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2016 (Dublin)[111] as coach of the Top Ten UK team.[112] He was replaced by Gilbert Smith.[113]
Page defeated Jeremie Holloway at Bellator 153 on 22 April 2016, submitting him with an Estima lock in round one.[114][115][116]
Page's fight with Fernando Gonzalez was rescheduled[117] for Bellator 158 on 16 July 2016 but visa issues forced Gonzalez to withdraw.[118] Page accepted a contract to fight Paul Daley after Josh Koscheck withdrew but Daley chose to fight Douglas Lima instead.[119] Page fought Evangelista Santos[citation needed] and won by knocking out Santos with a flying knee in the second round.[120] Santos underwent surgery afterwards due to a depressed frontal sinus fracture.[121] The fight went viral partly due to the Pokémon Go-inspired post-fight celebration.[122]
In July 2016, Bellator claimed that Page re-signed[123] with the promotion and had four fights left on his contract.[124] However, Page stated that he did not re-sign but had two fights left from existing contractual provisions.[125]
A proposed bout between Page and Paul Daley was targeted for Bellator 179 but negotiations fell through after Daley chose to fight Rory MacDonald instead.[128] Page was supposed to fight Derek Anderson[129] but an old knee injury[130][131] and neck injury forced him off the card.[132] Daley attempted to brawl with Page after losing his fight.[133] Another fight with Daley was proposed for September 2017 in London but was turned down by Daley, who instead opted to fight Lorenz Larkin at Bellator 183.[134][135]
Page was expected to compete at Bellator 191 but a fight was never announced.[136]
2018
Bellator attempted to match Page against Daley on 9 March 2018 but negotiations stalled when Daley refused to commit to the date.[137]
On 30 July 2018, Page confirmed signing a new six-fight contract with Bellator, three for the tournament and three as part of the champion clause.[144] The contract will let him box, subject to Bellator's approval.[145]
Page fought former two-time Bellator Welterweight World Champion Douglas Lima in the semi-final of the welterweight tournament on 11 May 2019 at Bellator 221.[152] Despite having some initial success, Page lost the fight via knockout in the second round.[153]
Page faced Richard Kiely at Bellator 227 as the co-main event on 27 September 2019.[154] He won the fight via knockout from a flying knee in the first round.[155]
Page was expected to headline Bellator London 2 against Derek Anderson on 23 November 2019 but Anderson withdrew for undisclosed reasons on 12 November 2019.[156][157] Page instead fought Giovanni Melillo and won by knockout in the first round.[158][159]
Page faced Ross Houston at Bellator 248 on 10 October 2020.[162] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[163]
2021
Page faced Derek Anderson at Bellator 258 on 7 May 2021. Page was supposed to fight Anderson twice before at Bellator 179 and Bellator London 2.[164] During the first round, Page broke and flattened Anderson's nose with a kick, leading to the doctor stopping the fight between rounds.[165]
Page made his boxing debut on 20 October 2017 at Hayemaker Ringstar Fight Night against Jonathan Castano as the co-main event.[187] He won via technical knockout in the third round.[188] He was supposed to debut on the undercard of Haye vs. Bellew but was still negotiating with Bellator at the time.[183]
Page wanted to fight at Hayemaker Ringstar Fight Night 2 on 16 February 2018 but Bellator wanted an MMA fight scheduled before allowing him to commit to another boxing fight.[189][190]
Page faced Carlos Condit in the main event of Polaris 30 on November 2, 2024.[197] He won the match by decision.[198]
Fighting style
Page describes his discipline as a "hands down kickboxing style" created from a "mishmash" of taekwondo, karate, and kung fu styles competing under a points scoring ruleset.[199][200][201] As a low-volume movement-based fighter his game plan revolves around controlling distance and landing heavy counterstrikes with high accuracy.[202][203] He relies on his elusive movement and knockout power to finish opponents and often engages in histrionics while fighting to maintain focus, unnerve his opponents, and rile up the crowd.[12][204][205] Page credited his parents, as well as Simon Lewis, and Marvin Francis as being the most influential in his combat sports career.[53][67]
Personal life
Page received the moniker "Venom" from fellow kickboxer Marvin Francis in homage of the film Five Deadly Venoms.[39][206]
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