For Michael “Venom” Web page, the rationale his Aug. 16 return at UFC 319 is at middleweight is easy — Jared Cannonier, Web page mentioned, was the one one who’d battle him. Even then, the Englishman had his doubts.
“I referred to as out everyone however acquired no solutions,” Web page mentioned on Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Present.”
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Whereas talking this week to Uncrowned, Web page gave the impression 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 lately Shara “Bullet” Magomedov, Web page appears like a veteran. However he doesn’t really feel he will get the identical love or respect as most fight athletes along with his degree of expertise. He’s an excessive amount of of a danger for different vets within the recreation, and refuses to battle beneath himself as a gatekeeper for up-and-coming guys.
Later this month on the United Middle in Chicago, on the UFC 319 pay-per-view, Web page fights Cannonier. It is a 185-pound contest that has nice implications for the winner.
A win would crash Web page, No. 15 at welterweight, into the UFC’s middleweight rankings. For Cannonier, ranked No. 8, it’s an opportunity to interrupt free from a middling .500 run and revive his title marketing campaign.
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If Web page retains successful, he’s assured he’ll change into unavoidable. A possible Battle of Britain in opposition to Leon Edwards, which Web page has lengthy referred to as for, might change into even larger for 2026.
That Web page is combating a second time this yr at middleweight raises questions on his standing at 170 kilos, however, “I needed to go the place the smoke is,” he mentioned.
The smoke, Web page mentioned, proper now’s at 185.
Web page was hopeful that his victory over Magomedov, who is likely one of the UFC’s most aggressively-marketed prospects, would have catapulted him into high-profile fights on marquee playing cards. He needed to run amok at welterweight. “Nevertheless it doesn’t seem like welterweight [has many opportunities right now]. It appears to be political — who you possibly can battle, who’s prepared,” mentioned Web page.
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“After that final win [over Magomedov] I used to be anticipating massive names, and the identify I acquired [offered], I used to be considering, ‘This doesn’t make any sense,'” Web page continued. “I beat one in every of your prospects. And the best way it regarded, if he had overwhelmed me, he would have been in a title elimination and shifting ahead [up the division]. So what does that imply for me? He was a younger, up-and-coming man, gifted. And I’d overwhelmed him.”
Web page was anticipating a number of battle provides from the UFC — from all instructions. He didn’t hear something. He was anticipating massive names, however mentioned it was “irritating” as these massive names had been by no means offered.
When these massive names didn’t come, Web page needed to convey himself to them as an alternative. And so he issued public callouts. To Colby Covington. To Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. To anyone within the high 10 at welterweight.
“I believed that was one of the best ways to make one thing occur,” Web page mentioned. “There have been no responses, in any respect, from anyone.”
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Even the UFC advised him: “It’s tough to match you.”
“I don’t wish to play the avoiding recreation,” Web page mentioned, “however persons are being tactical about who they’re combating subsequent.”
The Brit didn’t need to sit on the sidelines to see the previous couple of years of his 30s drift away. And so he thought-about combating as soon as once more at 185, “the place these guys are a bit extra prepared, and prepared [to compete].”
Cannonier, he mentioned, “is a tremendous fighter to share the ring with. So, why not?”
However, although Cannonier agreed to the battle, it was not with out criticism. A battle in opposition to Web page didn’t advance issues for him. The opponent, Cannonier mentioned, isn’t even established on the weight.
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“The rating system has made issues a bit extra political about the place folks need to go, as an alternative of simply combating,” Web page mentioned, in response. “I’m a veteran within the recreation … however I’m nonetheless new to the UFC. And different vets aren’t prepared to battle an ungainly type, that may be a little bit of a headache for some folks.”
Web page mentioned he finds himself “in a bizarre scenario.” As a result of, whereas different veterans could not need to battle him, he doesn’t need to battle the brand new guys coming in. He’s not a gatekeeper within the divisions wherein he fights, he mentioned.
On the finish of the day, “Jared accepted and signed the contract.”
Regardless of his frustrations, Web page nonetheless likes the Cannonier bout. It’s an indication of development. It’s additionally “a bonus” that it’s on the identical card as a middleweight major occasion — UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis defends the belt in opposition to intimidating mauler Khamzat Chimaev in UFC 319’s featured attraction.
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Each du Plessis and Chimaev could possibly be future opponents for Web page.
However as for whether or not Web page will keep at middleweight after Cannonier, or drop again all the way down to welterweight, nicely, that relies on his opponents, he mentioned.
“I’m in it for the massive fights,” Web page mentioned. “And I need to get to a title battle. I’m an individual who can battle in each divisions. It’s relying on one of the best path to the highest.”
One box-office bout that would shake up welterweight, in addition to stir nationwide curiosity within the U.Okay., is one involving Web page and ex-champ Edwards. “If that’s supplied to me, I’d 100% settle for [it],” Web page mentioned.
“However, if I’m advised, ‘Take this battle [against Cannonier] and also you’re in line for a title eliminator,’ then I’ll keep” at middleweight as an alternative, he mentioned.
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A method Web page can reinforce his credentials as a ranked UFC fighter is to copy the violent nature of his Bellator knockouts. He famously put a dent in Evangelista Santos’ cranium. He hit Richard Kiely with a one-hitter-quitter. He slaughtered Anderson with a head kick.
He’s but to repeat that within the UFC, as his wins within the massive league have solely been through choice.
And that’s not misplaced on Web page.
“I’ve at all times needed to get it,” he mentioned, earlier than analyzing his competitors to date within the UFC. “Kevin Holland is bloody powerful. I had a really awkward battle with Ian Garry, after which got here up in weight in opposition to Shara.”
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Additionally it is harder to complete opponents at middleweight, than at welterweight, he mentioned. However Web page is raring to tackle the problem, so he is optimized his coaching to attain knockouts in opposition to 185-pound fighters.
“There are pictures that you just land the place different folks would have fallen or wobbled,” Web page mentioned. “I understand on this division, that one shot I’d usually catch, I must land that three [or] 4 instances. And that’s when the harm begins to kick in.
“I’ve been doing additional health work to simply land extra, land extra combos. And preserve the work going.”
“The aim is to at all times go in there and win by knockout,” Web page completed. “And I’d like to ship that for the followers.”
Cannonier vs. Web page is one in every of 5 major card fights at UFC 319.
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