| Venue: Wembley Arena, London Date: Friday May 13th |
| Cover: Live coverage on ` iPlayer and the ` Sport website and app from 6pm BST, with the main card also live on ` Three from 9pm BST |
“I’m not getting the recognition I deserve, but it doesn’t worry me,” says Michael “Venom” Page when asked if his fighting skills and achievements at elite level are being fully recognized.
It’s an intriguing subject – as enigmatic as the fighter himself. But there’s no doubt that with his unique style, endless breaks in highlight reels and mastery of the moment to promote himself, “MVP” is a natural star of the sports heaven.
His persona is a great mystery, just like each of his rivals, faced with his quick, lightning-fast attacks and moves honed through years of freestyle kickboxing through his long body and sluggish abilities. He is the viper of martial arts.
Page is in fact also the ‘poster boy’ for Bellator MMA in the UK and there’s a strong argument that he doesn’t get enough mainstream recognition.
But is Page really unperturbed by the fact that the stars of MMA may not be getting the respect they deserve from a broad British audience, both for their bravery and their skill?
“Not really,” he tells ` Sport.
“Let’s be realistic. MMA is still a very young, very new sport in this country, which is still viewed negatively in some places, such as by sponsors.
“Because of that we have to strive to move things forward, but if I’m honest I don’t do what I do for recognition, I do it because I love it. I love my journey, it’s in me. I’m still happy where I am, my status is slowly growing.
“It will come, that’s how I see it.”
This elevated status could be due to several factors.
One of them could be the Olympic cut campaign. First, however, on Friday, interest will come from his bid for Bellator’s interim welterweight crown. The London page could become a member of a very exclusive club as he is only the third Brit to hold a world title with one of the largest mixed martial arts organizations.
In 2016, Michael Bisping became the UFC middleweight champion after repeatedly refusing to be denied in a never-to-be-told tale that made the Lancastrian a folk hero. And in 2015, Liam McGeary captured Bellator’s light heavyweight crown, a feat that went terribly under the radar.
And as Page now sees, UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall is two fights away from fighting for the UFC Big Man crown. But champions were few and far between, as if to emphasize the infancy of the sport here.
Additionally, Page has no disappointment that Yaroslav Amosov, Bellator’s Welterweight Champion, won’t meet him in the cage at Wembley on Friday Night. The Ukrainian withdrew from their fight to defend his homeland from Russia.
“I thought it might happen,” Page says. “He’s Ukrainian and things happen in his life that are out of his control. The way I see it, if I win against Logan Storley I see myself as a champion. Amosov will come when he’s ready and.” we will fight then.”
Page is a firm favorite against American Storley, who has a 13-1 record but is best known for his wrestling.
But broadly speaking, as MMA grows globally, it will become an Olympic sport and maybe even a Commonwealth Games sport, and so will the sport’s resonate with a mainstream crossover audience. That certainly seems to be the case in women’s boxing, which is now growing exponentially 10 years after its involvement in the London Olympics.
Something is happening to ensure that this also becomes a reality. The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) was awarded signatory status by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) seven months ago, an important step towards inclusion in the Olympic Games.
Page believes that including the Olympics or Commonwealth Games would have a dramatic impact on the dissonance MMA is currently experiencing in some circles as it is still misperceived in the minds of some sports fans.
“If I had come back with a gold medal at one of those events, I’m 100% sure people would look at me differently,” Page said. “We attach great importance to the Olympic Games in this country. My path would have been different, and maybe financially my path would not have been the way it was for me.
MVP fights for the interim welterweight title in London on Friday
“Things happen for a reason. The recognition will come – it’s as simple as that … we still have to massively educate people.”
If Page can first beat Storley in spectacular fashion and then defend the provisional title – possibly against old opponent Douglas Lima or challenger Jason Jackson if Amosov is unavailable – could he find himself among the contenders for ` Sports Personality of 2022?
“It would be amazing and I’d be very honored if that happened,” Page says with a grin.
Let’s smile Mr. Page and do your thing and become one of a very thin list of fighters from these shores who can claim to have been world champions in MMA with the big organizations.
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