Michael Page has made it quite clear for nearly a year he wants to return to the UFC’s welterweight division
Michael Page has repeatedly said, despite success at middleweight, he wants to return to welterweight — although the UFC has not obliged.
The former Bellator star is now 3-1 in the octagon since signing with the UFC — with his first two fights taking place at 170, and the latter two taking place at 185.
Page discusses when he may return in 2026 while appearing on Shxts N Gigs.
“My likely next fight is going to be, because they’re coming to London as they always do for March,” Page said. “I’m a big name over here, they want me to fight, but they still haven’t got an opponent.
“So it’s like, ‘Yeah, you’re definitely going to fight in March and we’re still trying to figure out an opponent.’”
Page first called out Shara Magomedov for a middleweight bout in an interview with MMA Fighting prior to his grappling match with Carlos Condit in November 2024. The UFC granted “MVP” his wish, and Page got a lopsided decision win at UFC Saudi Arabia in February.
Although he wanted to return to welterweight, Page remained at middleweight for a decision win against past title challenger Jared Cannonier at UFC 319 in August. Again, Page hoped to get back into the welterweight landscape, but he says the UFC doesn’t seem to be having it — for whatever reason.
“I’m in two divisions,” Page explained. “I said I want to be at welterweight. I’ve taken a spur of the moment middleweight fight with Shara Bullet, didn’t mind. Then I was like, give me a welterweight fight again. ‘Nobody’s available.’ OK, give me another middleweight fight, they give me another middleweight fight. Cool.
“Give me another welterweight fight. ‘Nobody’s available.’ How can nobody be available? This is what I’m literally getting. This guy. I kid you not. There was a fight the other day, quite a few welterweights were performing. He just won a fight spectacularly. [I] message them, ‘That’s a great fight for me in London.’ [They responded], ‘Oh, we’ve got plans for him.’ The [man] just stepped out of the cage. I’m already out for months, and you don’t have any plans for me, but you have plans for him. That doesn’t make any sense, bro.”
Page is a bit confused about the situation, and although he may be frustrated, he won’t let it effect him too much. After all, Page believes that everything happens for a reason, and that led to him getting a spot with a film sequel that has MMA ties.
“In my head, something’s going on,” Page said. “I don’t know what it is, but weirdly enough — like I said, I don’t try to over stress it because I know other things will come — then Road House [2] came. So I’m on that until December, and if I had a fight, it would’ve been hard to do both of those things anyway, and it allows me to have the time between January and March to prep, have a proper prep, and be ready for action.”
Category: General Sports
