“It’s a shame”: Why did Michael Page feel disrespected at the end of his UFC journey despite a 5-1 record?

Michael “Venom” Page’s UFC journey was supposed to be about proving that his unique style could work at the highest level of MMA. He arrived in the promotion with a reputation built on speed, creativity and spectacular finishes. By the time his UFC run ended, however, the conversation had changed. Page had won five of six fights, yet he felt the way his departure was handled did not match what he had achieved. His disappointment was not simply about losing a contract. It was about communication, respect and the feeling that he never got the chance to understand where he stood. Now, Page is reflecting on a chapter that taught him as much about himself as fighting.Michael Page believed his UFC record deserved a proper conversationPage joined the UFC in 2024 after becoming one of Bellator’s most recognizable fighters. His first appearance against Kevin Holland at UFC 299 gave fans an early look at what he could bring to the promotion.He won that fight by unanimous decision, using his movement and striking to frustrate Holland. While the spectacular finishes that had become part of Page’s identity did not arrive consistently afterward, the British veteran continued finding ways to win.His UFC record eventually reached 5-1. Four of those victories came consecutively, with his final win coming against Nursulton Ruziboev in Paris. From Page’s perspective, that record should have at least opened the door for another discussion with the promotion."I had goals to achieve, so regardless of anything, I was winning my fights, which says to me you get to stay," Page told Uncrowned. "That's the premise of this game. Success should breed more opportunities. So, I still felt like we'd sit down at the table.""What is the harm in allowing me to speak [after the fight]?" Page said. "I've seen fights that have been absolutely terrible, and they still get to go on the mic and say their piece. This is the second time it's happened to me."The way he eventually found out about his UFC future made the experience harder. Dana White later confirmed publicly that the promotion would not re-sign Page. Page was on vacation when he saw messages from people reacting to the news."I was just chilling on holiday, and I see I'm getting messages from people seeing the clip. OK, I guess that's where we're at," Page said.For Page, the bigger issue was not necessarily the decision itself. He said he would have accepted a difficult conversation if it had been handled directly."I'm always happy to have a conversation, regardless of if it's a difficult one or easy one. ... If you're not happy with the performances, have a conversation with me. ... At least it gives me a goal and something to work toward, and I know exactly where I stand with the partnership."The deeper part of Michael Page’s story goes beyond his UFC recordPage’s UFC experience also forced him to examine something more personal. Despite continuing to win, he felt he was not producing the performances he knew he was capable of delivering."I just know what I'm capable of, and for some reason, I don't know what it is, I just feel like I'm not pushing myself enough in the fights," Page said. "It's weird to say, because I'm winning fights and I'm not at my best. It's just a shame that I haven't been able to really showcase my best, and yet I'm still beating fighters that are at the top of their game.""I realized it second fight in, that I was carrying a weight, and I shouldn't be. It was a case of figuring out how to not do that when I'm heading into these fights. How to not fixate on performing the way that I used to and just enjoy the performance.""It's a show. I'm excited about the things I can do with my walkout, this and that. I can visualize exactly how amazing and epic that's going to be. There's nobody I'm saying no to right now," Page said.At 39, Page still wants to compete. More importantly, he appears determined to leave the frustration of his UFC exit behind and rediscover the enjoyment that made him fall in love with fighting in the first place.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.