Latest news with #JaredCannonier
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Michael ‘Venom' Page on the frustrations that led to surprise fight with Jared Cannonier at UFC 319
Michael 'Venom' Page has explained his decision to stay at middleweight for his next UFC fight, despite previously expressing an intention to drop back to welterweight. A longtime welterweight fighter in Bellator, 'MVP' debuted in the UFC in the same division in March 2024, outpointing Kevin Holland. But after losing a decision to Ian Machado Garry last June, Page's next move was to head up to middleweight. There, the Briton proved his doubters wrong by outpointing the highly-touted Shara Magomedov in February. And although Page told The Independent before that bout, 'I'm fixated on getting business done [at welterweight],' his next fight will also take place at middleweight. The kickboxing specialist, 38, will face former title challenger Jared Cannonier at UFC 319 on 16 August. 'I want all the smoke, I want to go where the smoke is,' Page told The Independent on Wednesday (6 August). 'It feels like the guys in the welterweight division are not carrying any fire. It seems to be very political, it's a bit too technical about who fights who. 'There's even more people with even more claims of getting that title shot [than at middleweight], so a lot of people don't want to take those dangerous fights if they don't have to. And to add to the welterweight division, Islam is moving up as well now, which just holds up the division even more.' Page was referring to Islam Makhachev, who vacated the lightweight title in May with the intention of challenging for the welterweight belt. Makhachev is due to get his chance later this year, facing champion Jack Della Maddalena – potentially at UFC 322 in November. 'In the middleweight division, there are just a lot of hungry guys wanting to make it to the top,' Page continued. 'Everyone, it seems, is more excited to just fight and make big fights happen, continue to prove themselves. Even if they feel like they're next in line [for a title shot], they're still willing to take that extra fight to push them closer. "I was just tried of waiting, so I said: 'I've done it once [at middleweight], let me try it again.' Until things are cleared up down there, I'll just get some good fights at middleweight." Discussing how comfortable he felt at 185lb in his bout with Magomedov, Page added: 'I felt really good. It's weird, because most of your camp [even at welterweight], you're actually sparring at that weight [closer to 185lb]. So, although we cut down to whatever we cut down to, we never really stand around at [170lb]. So, it feels way more comfortable [at 185lb], because I've spent a lot more of my career – off-camera – at that weight.' Magomedov was the betting favourite against Page, entering that contest with an unbeaten record, but the latter's kickboxing capabilities trumped the Russian's. 'Even speaking to people afterwards, I knew he was the favourite,' Page said. 'I didn't go in there worried about that. I, and a lot of the British media, already knew it was a very good match-up for me. Anybody that's willing to stand in front of me is gonna have a problem.' Cannonier is also expected to stand in front of Page. The American, 41, is known for his heavy hands and previously fought at heavyweight and light-heavyweight. 'It'd be silly to overlook somebody of his calibre, who's fought absolutely everybody,' Page said. 'There's not really been one [fight] where he's been dominated. He's given all those names, every single one of those amazing fighters, a great fight. 'Heavyweight to light-heavyweight to middleweight, and I'm coming up to middleweight, so you know he's gonna be very strong. 'And he's a person that's going out on his shield. Even in his last fight: he got knocked down, it looked like it was going the other way, and he stuck in there, kept it going, then came back and won the fight himself.' Cannonier's last outing ended as a stoppage win over Gregory Rodrigues in February, with the 'Killa Gorilla' sealing the finish early in round four. With that, Cannonier snapped a two-fight losing streak. The American has fought a who's who of middleweights, from former champions Robert Whittaker, Sean Strickland, Anderson Silva and Israel Adesanya – who held the title when he beat Cannonier – to contenders Kelvin Gastelum, Marvin Vettori, Jack Hermansson and Nassourdine Imavov.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael 'Venom' Page lists Leon Edwards fight as reason to return to welterweight
Michael "Venom" Page is the final guest of the day, joining ahead of his upcoming fight against Jared Cannonier to discuss the UFC 319 matchup, whether he'll stick around at middleweight, refereeing KSI's boxing challenge and more.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michael 'Venom' Page irritated with politics of UFC welterweight division, blasts rivals
For Michael "Venom" Page, the reason his Aug. 16 return at UFC 319 is at middleweight is simple — Jared Cannonier, Page said, was the only one who'd fight him. Even then, the Englishman had his doubts. 'I called out everybody but got no answers,' Page said on Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show." While speaking this week to Uncrowned, Page appeared to be in a no-man's land. At age 38, and with wins over Paul Daley, Derek Anderson, Douglas Lima, Kevin Holland and most recently Shara "Bullet" Magomedov, Page feels like a veteran. But he doesn't feel he gets the same love or respect as most combat athletes with his level of experience. He's too much of a risk for other vets in the game, and refuses to fight below himself as a gatekeeper for up-and-coming guys. Later this month at the United Center in Chicago, on the UFC 319 pay-per-view, Page fights Cannonier. It's a 185-pound contest that has great implications for the winner. A win would crash Page, No. 15 at welterweight, into the UFC's middleweight rankings. For Cannonier, ranked No. 8, it's a chance to break free from a middling .500 run and revive his title campaign. If Page keeps winning, he's confident he'll become unavoidable. A potential Battle of Britain against Leon Edwards, which Page has long called for, could become even bigger for 2026. That Page is fighting a second time this year at middleweight raises questions about his status at 170 pounds, but, 'I wanted to go where the smoke is," he said. The smoke, Page said, right now is at 185. Page was hopeful that his victory over Magomedov, who is one of the UFC's most aggressively-marketed prospects, would have catapulted him into high-profile fights on marquee cards. He wanted to run amok at welterweight. 'But it doesn't look like welterweight [has many opportunities right now]. It seems to be political — who you can fight, who's ready,' said Page. 'After that last win [over Magomedov] I was expecting big names, and the name I got [offered], I was thinking, 'This doesn't make any sense,'" Page continued. "I beat one of your prospects. And the way it looked, if he had beaten me, he would have been in a title elimination and moving forward [up the division]. So what does that mean for me? He was a young, up-and-coming guy, talented. And I'd beaten him.' Page was expecting multiple fight offers from the UFC — from all directions. He didn't hear anything. He was expecting big names, but said it was 'irritating' as those big names were never presented. When those big names didn't come, Page wanted to bring himself to them instead. And so he issued public callouts. To Colby Covington. To Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson. To anybody in the top 10 at welterweight. 'I thought that was the best way to make something happen,' Page said. 'There were no responses, at all, from anybody.' Even the UFC told him: 'It's difficult to match you.' 'I don't like to play the avoiding game," Page said, "but people are being tactical about who they're fighting next.' The Brit didn't want to sit on the sidelines to see the last few years of his 30s drift away. And so he considered fighting once again at 185, 'where these guys are a bit more ready, and willing [to compete]." Cannonier, he said, "is an amazing fighter to share the ring with. So, why not?' But, though Cannonier agreed to the fight, it was not without criticism. A fight against Page didn't advance things for him. The opponent, Cannonier said, is not even established at the weight. 'The ranking system has made things a bit more political about where people want to go, instead of just fighting,' Page said, in response. 'I'm a veteran in the game … but I'm still new to the UFC. And other vets aren't willing to fight an awkward style, that can be a bit of a headache for some people.' Page said he finds himself 'in a weird situation.' Because, while other veterans may not want to fight him, he doesn't want to fight the new guys coming in. He's not a gatekeeper in the divisions in which he fights, he said. At the end of the day, 'Jared accepted and signed the contract.' Despite his frustrations, Page still likes the Cannonier bout. It's a sign of progression. It's also 'a bonus' that it's on the same card as a middleweight main event — UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis defends the belt against intimidating mauler Khamzat Chimaev in UFC 319's featured attraction. Both du Plessis and Chimaev could be future opponents for Page. But as for whether Page will stay at middleweight after Cannonier, or drop back down to welterweight, well, that depends on his opponents, he said. 'I'm in it for the big fights,' Page said. 'And I want to get to a title fight. I'm a person who can fight in both divisions. It's depending on the best path to the top.' One box-office bout that could shake up welterweight, as well as stir national interest in the U.K., is one involving Page and ex-champ Edwards. 'If that's offered to me, I'd 100% accept [it],' Page said. 'But, if I'm told, 'Take this fight [against Cannonier] and you're in line for a title eliminator,' then I'll stay' at middleweight instead, he said. One way Page can reinforce his credentials as a ranked UFC fighter is to replicate the violent nature of his Bellator knockouts. He famously put a dent in Evangelista Santos' skull. He hit Richard Kiely with a one-hitter-quitter. He slaughtered Anderson with a head kick. He is yet to repeat that in the UFC, as his wins in the big league have only been via decision. And that is not lost on Page. 'I've always wanted to get it,' he said, before analyzing his competition so far in the UFC. 'Kevin Holland is bloody tough. I had a very awkward fight with Ian Garry, and then came up in weight against Shara.' It is also tougher to finish opponents at middleweight, than at welterweight, he said. But Page is eager to take on the challenge, so he's optimized his training to score knockouts against 185-pound fighters. 'There are shots that you land where other people would have fallen or wobbled,' Page said. 'I realize in this division, that one shot I'd normally catch, I need to land that three [or] four times. And that's when the damage starts to kick in. 'I've been doing extra fitness work to just land more, land more combinations. And keep the work going.' 'The goal is to always go in there and win by knockout,' Page finished. 'And I'd love to deliver that for the fans.' Cannonier vs. Page is one of five main card fights at UFC 319.
USA Today
13-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page added to UFC 319 in Chicago
Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page added to UFC 319 in Chicago The lineup for the UFC's return to the "Windy City" continues to build with the addition of a former title challenger to the lineup. Jared Cannonier (18-8 MMA, 11-8 UFC) is set to take on Michael Page (23-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at UFC 319, which takes place Aug. 16 at United Center in Chicago. UFC officials announced the middleweight booking Friday. Although a card placement wasn't announced, the matchup almost certainly will be part of the pay-per-view main card. UFC 319 is headlined by a middleweight title fight between champion Dricus Du Plessis and challenger Khamzat Chimaev. Page had a high-profile UFC debut at UFC 299 15 months ago and outworked Kevin Holland for a unanimous decision at welterweight. He dropped his follow-up to Ian Machado Garry, but in February threw a wrench into the middleweight division with an upset of Shara Magomedov. Now the longtime Bellator standout will look for a second straight at 185 pounds in the UFC. Cannonier fought for the middleweight title in mid-2022, but dropped a decision to then-champ Israel ADesanya. He had back-to-back wins over former title challengers Sean Strickland and Marvin Vettori after that, but fell back in to the pack when he dropped bouts to Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho in 2024. Earlier this year, though, the "Killa Gorilla" got back on track with a fourth-round knockout of Gregory Rodrigues in a bonus-winning performance in his latest UFC main event. A win over Page would be another high-profile one to add to his resume and keep him in contention at 185. With the addition, the latest UFC 319 lineup now includes:
USA Today
19-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Feb. 18: Youssef Zalal darts into featherweight top 15
UFC Fight Night 251 took place this past Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, producing a few updates across multiple divisions. In the main event, former title challenger Jared Cannonier overcame early scares from Gregory Rodrigues to score a fourth-round TKO. In the co-feature, Youssef Zalal picked up the biggest win of his career by defeating Calvin Kattar. As a result, Zalal enters the featherweight rankings at No. 14, while Kattar falls one spot behind. Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.
