British welterweight star Michael Page takes center stage at the SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday as Bellator lands in the U.K. for Bellator Europe 6.
The London Shootfighters-trained star has a reputation for being one of the most flamboyant, spectacular, yet polarizing fighters in the world as Page (15-1 MMA, 11-1 BMMA) has compiled a resume packed with highlight-reel finishes and memorable post-fight celebrations.
Ahead of his main event clash with Italy’s Giovanni Melillo in London this weekend, we take a look at the six fights that have helped define the career of the man known to the MMA world as “MVP.”
Ben Dishman at UCMMA 26: The Real Deal – Feb. 4, 2012
The fight that started it all saw Page make his professional MMA debut at London’s Troxy Theater against white-collar boxer Ben Dishman at UCMMA 26. And “MVP” produced one of the most spectacular debuts we’ve seen from a fighter on their pro debut as he finished Dishman with a stunning tornado kick.
Page’s reaction, standing with his arms spread wide, spoke volumes about his supreme confidence as he announced his arrival as a spectacular new prospect in the sport.
Evangelista ‘Cyborg’ Santos at Bellator 158 – Jul. 16, 2016
Fast forward four years and Page had grown into a fully-fledged star in Bellator, having registered five wins in a row with the promotion. But while his spectacular antics were helping him build a strong fanbase, there were others just waiting for him to fail.
Many believed Evangelista Santos would be the man to provide the Brit with a reality check, but Page dazzled on home soil in London. as he peppered “Cyborg” with strikes from range before unleashing one of the most devastating flying knees ever seen on the big stage.
Here are the results:
It proved that “MVP” was the real deal as he delivered a highlight-reel moment for the British fans, but also served made the statement that his strikes carried some serious substance behind all the style.
Oh yes, there was also the Pokemon GO! celebration…
David Rickels at Bellator 200 – May 25, 2018
We’ve seen fighters left bamboozled by Page’s unorthodox striking skills throughout his career, but none reacted quite like Bellator veteran David Rickels who, at Bellator 200, was potshotted and feinted into a verbal submission after he, in his own words, “got broke” by the British striker in a one-sided second-round defeat.
Rickels barely laid a glove on “MVP” as Page toyed with the seasoned veteran. It was almost cruel at times, but it showed just how in control the Englishman was, despite being faced by a gritty, experienced veteran with a host of solid wins under his belt.
It proved that Page wasn’t just a flashy low-to-mid-tier fighter who would get caught out against experienced talent, and thrust him further towards the top of the Bellator welterweight division.
Paul Daley at Bellator 216 – Feb. 16, 2019
The matchup that seemed like a can’t-miss firecracker for Bellator proved to be a disappointingly damp squib as the “Battle of Britain” turned out to be an unexpected dud.
For starters, Bellator’s decision to hold the welterweight grand prix quarterfinal fight not in England, but in Uncasville, Conn., immediately robbed the matchup of the big-fight atmosphere that had been marinating slowly in the U.K. ever since the rivalry between the pair started to build. Then, when the fight began, things weren’t quite right, as the striking battle between the concussive, power-punching knockout artist (Daley) and the spectacular long-range sniper (Page) failed to materialize.
Instead, what we saw was a dour, tactical affair in which Daley abandoned his usual aggressive approach for a more circumspect, wrestle-heavy game plan while Page stayed on the outside looking to counter striking blitzes from Daley that never came. In the end, it was Page whose hand was raised after a disappointing matchup, and left the question hanging in the air of what might have been if only the fight had been held in England, with both men applying their usual fighting styles.
The fight at the Mohegan Sun Arena left the fans wondering if all the pre-fight hype had been worth it. On the basis of that fight, it wasn’t, but given a little lead time and a guaranteed main event spot in the U.K., Bellator might just be tempted to run it back in 2020. Watch this space…
Douglas Lima at Bellator 221 – May 11, 2019
Following his win over Daley, “MVP” moved on to the semifinals of the welterweight grand prix, where he took on former world champion Douglas Lima in an eagerly anticipated battle for a spot in the $1 million final. And, after 14 professional fights without defeat, Page finally experienced his first loss as a pro MMA fighter after being spectacularly finished by a Lima uppercut.
Prior to the stunning KO, Page was arguably shading the exchanges, and seemed to be growing in confidence as he forced the Brazilian back towards the cage and prepared to unleash one of his spectacular techniques. But a perfectly placed low calf kick from Lima swept Page’s lead leg out from beneath him as he dropped to the canvas. And, as he attempted to get back to his feet, he made what he admitted was a crucial mistake and hung his chin out in front of Lima.
The Brazilian didn’t need a second invitation and connected with a perfect punch to knock out the Brit and send him to his first defeat in jaw-dropping fashion. A fight in which Page was looking very competitive against a dangerous former world champion suddenly turned against him with one mistake, and one wekk-placed punch.
Page took the defeat with class and vowed to return better than ever, while Lima went on to defeat Rory MacDonald and reclaim the 170-pound strap.
Richard Kiely at Bellator Europe 4 – Sep. 27, 2019
When Page’s next bout was announced as being against the relatively inexperienced former BAMMA title challenger Richard Kiely at Bellator Europe 4 in Dublin, eyebrows were raised. But rather than it being a case of Page cherry-picking an opponent, it was more a case of Kiely speaking the fight into existence by talking his way into the biggest fight of his life.
When that fight came and the two strikers met inside the Bellator cage, the gulf in class quickly became apparent as Page dominated the bout with his reflexes, timing and the sheer speed of his strikes.
Page smiled his way through the fight like a man who knew he had all the cheat codes, as he picked apart Kiely almost at will. Then, with a ground and pound TKO finish seemingly only a matter of strikes away, “MVP’ added insult to injury by pausing his onslaught to mime taking a selfie. It prompted referee Dan Miragliotta to take a point from the Brit and restart the action in the stand-up.
Page shrugged off the admonition, then closed the show with a brilliant flying knee before receiving the adoration of the Dublin crowd. Given the fact he’d just defeated a popular Irishman in his home town, the reaction spoke volumes about Page’s star power on this side of the pond.
Now Page returns to his stomping ground of London, England for Bellator Europe 6, where the fans will pack the stands of the SSE Arena looking to see what the nation’s most spectacular MMA star will produce next.
