Michael Page Bio
Michael Jerome Reece-Page, widely known as Michael “Venom” Page or MVP, is an English professional mixed martial artist born on 7 April 1987. He currently competes in the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and, as of 30 September 2025, is ranked number ten in the UFC middleweight rankings. In addition to mixed martial arts, Page has competed professionally as a kickboxer, boxer, and bare-knuckle boxer. He is widely recognized for his unorthodox fighting style, which originated from freestyle kickboxing and sport karate.
Standing 191 cm tall and fighting from a kickboxing stance, Page has built a reputation as one of the most exciting strikers in modern combat sports. Residing in London, England, he continues to represent London Shootfighters and has become a global ambassador for dynamic, movement-based fighting.
Early Life and Background
Michael Jerome Reece-Page was born in St Mary’s Hospital, London, to Curtis Page Sr. and Pauline Reece, both Lau Gar kung fu practitioners. His father, a British Telecom employee, was originally from Trinidad, while his mother, a nurse, hailed from Jamaica. Page is a maternal nephew of Lau Gar Master Stan Brown, who also instructed his father. Growing up in a household steeped in martial arts, Page has nine siblings, three of whom are adopted.
Page attended Quintin Kynaston School in St John’s Wood, where he was a classmate of Olympian judoka Ashley McKenzie. He grew up in the NW8 area near Edgware Road and Lisson Green before his family relocated to W10 near Queen’s Park in 2003. Inspired heavily by martial arts films featuring icons such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Lee, and Sammo Hung, he began training in Lau Gar kung fu at the age of three. He earned a black belt in kung fu and competed at his first kickboxing tournament at just five years old.
Path to MMA
Page’s journey into mixed martial arts began after a decorated career in kickboxing. He captured ten world championships in kickboxing, including his first at the US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships in 1998, and was crowned British champion more than 25 times. He competed extensively across W.A.K.O. events, earning medals in semi-contact and light-contact divisions. He was even scouted by the Great Britain Taekwondo team with the aim of qualifying for the Olympics, but he turned down that path in favor of a professional combat sports career.
Dissatisfied with the politics and limited exposure of various kickboxing associations, Page decided to transition into MMA in 2011. He considered training at American Top Team in Miami, where his older siblings lived, but ultimately chose to begin his MMA career with London Shootfighters. He made his professional debut at UCMMA 26 on 4 February 2012, defeating Ben Dishman via technical knockout with a first-round tornado kick. That viral finish earned him comparisons to Anderson Silva and signaled the arrival of a unique talent.
Michael Page Career
Early Career (2012–2013)
Page built a strong regional following in the United Kingdom through the Ultimate Challenge MMA (UCMMA) and Super Fight League (SFL) promotions. He won all three of his UCMMA appearances, including a brief return to kickboxing for a UK-1 bout in August 2012, where he knocked out Jefferson George. His early SFL appearances against Haitham El-Sayed and Ramdan Mohamed ended in first-round finishes that further elevated his profile.
His unorthodox striking and showmanship made him a viral star before he had even reached a major global platform. By the end of 2013, Page had finished every opponent he had faced in professional mixed martial arts competition, building a record that attracted international attention.
Bellator MMA Breakthrough (2013–2022)
Page signed a five-fight contract with Bellator MMA and made his promotional debut at Bellator 93 on 21 March 2013, knocking out Ryan Sanders just ten seconds into the first round. From that point forward, he became one of Bellator’s most recognizable stars, racking up highlight-reel knockouts and submissions against opponents including Rudy Bears, Charlie Ontiveros, Jeremie Holloway, and Evangelista Santos. His flying knee knockout of Santos and the subsequent Pokémon Go-inspired celebration became one of the most shared fight clips in the sport.
Page’s most high-profile Bellator moment came in the Welterweight World Grand Prix Tournament. At Bellator 216, he defeated longtime rival Paul Daley by unanimous decision in the quarterfinals. His run was halted at Bellator 221 by former two-time champion Douglas Lima, who knocked him out in the semifinals. Page later earned a split-decision revenge win over Lima at Bellator 267 and challenged for the interim Bellator Welterweight World Championship against Logan Storley at Bellator 281, losing a close split decision. He closed out his Bellator tenure with a quick TKO of Goiti Yamauchi at Bellator 292 before declaring free agency in July 2023.
UFC Era (2024–Present)
After declaring free agency, Page signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in December 2023. He made his UFC debut against Kevin Holland at UFC 299 on 9 March 2024, earning a unanimous decision victory. He followed that with a unanimous decision loss to Ian Garry at UFC 303 in June 2024. Moving up to the middleweight division, Page defeated Sharabutdin Magomedov by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 250 on 1 February 2025, handing Magomedov his first MMA defeat.
Continuing his resurgence at middleweight, Page faced former title challenger Jared Cannonier on 16 August 2025 at UFC 319 and won by unanimous decision, cementing his place inside the division’s top ten. His 2025 campaign has marked the most consistent stretch of his UFC tenure.
Driving Style and Strengths
Page describes his discipline as a hands-down kickboxing style built from a blend of taekwondo, karate, and kung fu competing under a points-scoring ruleset. A low-volume, movement-based fighter, he focuses on controlling distance and landing heavy, high-accuracy counterstrikes. His elusive footwork, knockout power, and in-cage theatrics have become trademarks that unnerve opponents and energize crowds.
Notable Events and Milestones
His ten-second Bellator debut knockout, his viral flying knee finish of Evangelista Santos, and his unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier at UFC 319 stand among the defining moments of his career. He is also recognized as the first British fighter to reach the top ten of the UFC middleweight rankings in the modern era.
Michael Page Career Wins
Across his professional career spanning kickboxing, boxing, bare-knuckle, grappling, and mixed martial arts, Page has built a reputation as a finisher. His 27 professional MMA bouts have produced 24 wins and three losses, with victories coming by knockout, submission, and decision.
UFC Highlights
Page is undefeated inside the UFC middleweight division, with wins over Kevin Holland, Sharabutdin Magomedov, and Jared Cannonier. His 2025 stretch of three consecutive decision wins established him as a legitimate contender in a stacked weight class. He is currently ranked number ten in the UFC middleweight rankings.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the UFC and Bellator cages, Page has competed successfully in professional boxing under the Hayemaker Ringstar banner, capturing knockout wins over Jonathan Castaño and Michal Ciach. He also won his professional grappling debut at Polaris 30 against former UFC title challenger Carlos Condit by decision.
Michael Page Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Although the Page family is not a racing lineage, it is one of the most accomplished martial arts families in the United Kingdom. His father, Curtis Page Sr., served as his first kickboxing instructor, while his mother Pauline Reece, a nurse from Jamaica, was also a Lau Gar practitioner. Of Page’s nine siblings, his sister Sefena and brothers Curtis Jr., Jamie, and Kalon are also kickboxing champions.
Personal Life
Page received the “Venom” nickname from fellow kickboxer Marvin Francis, a tribute to the film Five Deadly Venoms. He is a lifelong supporter of Manchester United F.C. and adopted a pollo-pescetarian diet in August 2017. In 2024, he converted to Islam. His father passed away in December 2018, shortly before Page’s Bellator 216 fight with Paul Daley.
2025 Season Performance
Page’s 2025 campaign has been defined by his move to the UFC middleweight division, where he has reeled off three consecutive victories. His unanimous decision win over Sharabutdin Magomedov at UFC Fight Night 250 was followed by another decision win over Jared Cannonier at UFC 319, the latter marking his most high-profile middleweight victory to date.
Currently ranked number ten in the UFC middleweight rankings as of 30 September 2025, Page is positioned within striking distance of a title shot. Training remains split between London Shootfighters and other elite gyms, with his coaching staff supporting a measured, counter-striking approach suited to higher-weight opponents. His performances have drawn praise for their maturity and tactical discipline.
Looking ahead, Page is widely viewed as a serious contender in a deep middleweight field. A win over another top-five opponent could secure a future title eliminator. His blend of experience, athleticism, and signature style makes him one of the most dangerous and marketable figures in the division heading into late 2025 and beyond.