Morning Report: Michael ‘Venom’ Page envisions ‘absolutely massive’ Leon Edwards title fight, believes ‘we can sell out a stadium’

Michael Web page is formally UFC-bound.

After years of rising his title and resume via the ranks of the Bellator welterweight division, England’s “MVP” will now take a look at himself towards the perfect the world has to supply. That every one begins with Kevin Holland at UFC 299 in Miami, Fla., on March 9.

Arguably the largest knock on Web page’s profession in Bellator was the “fastidiously crafted” nature of it with opponent choice by matchmaking. Typically coined because the “final can-crusher,” Web page’s highlights stacked up quickly no matter fan notion or critique of who he was going through. Regardless of how you chop it, Web page did struggle a few of the promotion’s greatest, most notably within the type of his two encounters with Douglas Lima and his bouts towards Paul Daley and Goiti Yamauchi.

MVP is a big-name addition to the UFC’s 170-pound roster, particularly for an outsider on their method in. At age 36, the time is now or by no means to make a splash, and with a Holland win, Web page sees a conflict with the present champion Leon Edwards because the premier struggle the division can supply.

“It’s a fully large struggle,” Web page informed MMA Junkie. “It makes an announcement to the place the U.Ok. artists are at this stage of MMA on this planet. The U.Ok. guys are doing so effectively. You simply need to look throughout at Tom Aspinall doing his factor as effectively at heavyweight. The truth that we are able to get two U.Ok. guys to headline a fundamental occasion within the U.Ok. is unbelievable for a belt. Like I mentioned, extraordinary. Let’s make it occur.”

UFC 299 is about as excellent of a UFC debut stage as Web page may ask for. The Miami return PPV is stacking up so properly that UFC 300 the month after is wanting like a slight afterthought at current.

There’s no official bout order simply but, however because of Web page’s aforementioned established star energy, he believes he’s accomplished sufficient to attract in a serviceable sufficient viewers to show he’s put within the work to deserve a — let’s say, sooner — rise to the division’s peak.

“I believe lots of people are watching anyway, no matter the place I’m on the cardboard,” Web page mentioned. “In the event that they put me first struggle of the evening, there’s nonetheless loads of eyes, lots of people watching, lots of people ready to see if I can reply that query. Once I do, and if I reply it in that method, it places me instantly on the high.

“Identical once I had these conferences about coming to the UFC. They requested me, ‘What sort of fights are you on the lookout for?’ I mentioned, ‘I need to be on the high. I don’t need to be right here a very long time. I need to be right here and make as a lot noise, have a enjoyable time, placed on some nice fights, and that’s it.’ I need to be huge knockout, huge knockout, and let’s go for the belt. Hopefully, Leon’s nonetheless acquired the belt. I undoubtedly consider that he can nonetheless have the belt. We are able to promote out a stadium, we are able to make a lot noise collectively and promote out a stadium within the U.Ok. and simply convey an untold story to the UFC.”

One win will probably be required, at the least, for each Web page and Edwards earlier than a possible struggle. The latter champion doesn’t have his subsequent protection lined up, however rumors proceed to swirl round his Belal Muhammad rematch at UFC 300, creating an ideal timeline for the 2 Brits to construct to a dream bout. Nevertheless, we are able to’t overlook in regards to the different high contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, who ought to have recovered from his present ankle damage round that point as effectively.

The Holland debut makes for an entertaining one from not solely a stylistic perspective, however a verbal and psychological one, too. When Holland was final tasked with a striker of comparable ilk to Web page, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, the 2 went to warfare for so long as they may with the pleasant — unofficial — settlement to not grapple. This didn’t bode so effectively for Holland, as he broke his hand within the bout and in the end misplaced through a fourth-round physician’s stoppage TKO.

Ought to Holland try and make the identical settlement, MVP feels it wouldn’t be his wisest selection. If he can safe the knockout win with out assistance from the medical doctors, Web page (21-2) would turn out to be the primary to take action in Holland’s 36-fight profession (25-10, 1 NC).

“I do know for a truth Kevin Holland is just not going to need to try this settlement once more after the whooping that he took towards Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson,” Web page mentioned. “I see myself because the sooner, harder-hitting, extra harmful model of a ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. He’s undoubtedly not going to need to try this once more. I’m completely satisfied to take that deal. If he desires to shake my hand and try this, we are able to try this. However I don’t consider he’s going to need to. He’s going to need to make the most of as a lot as potential to cope with me.

“Everybody mentioned the identical factor to me once I fought Derek Anderson. They mentioned precisely the identical factor: ‘Derek Anderson’s by no means been stopped. Are you going to have the ability to try this?’ And I broke his face. In order that’s all I actually need to say to that. I simply know what I can do. Even when it goes the space, he’s going to be a sizzling mess.

“Anyone that desires to attempt to shoot for my legs, there’s a knee that’s proper there that’s simply triggering, ready for that individual to try this,” he concluded. “We’ve seen the harm that I can do. So it’s as much as him.”

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Sound & Pound.

Free struggle.

Final 12 months’s Buggy.

The Struggle Room: Joshua vs. Ngannou.

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Debate. The MMA Preventing workforce talks in regards to the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall feud: Who’s right and who’s wrong?

Heck of a Morning. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck discusses Francis Ngannou’s MMA future, Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, and extra.

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The Jones saga.

Respect.

Brutal.

Ouff.

Rankings.

Pulled a bit sneaky on the finish there.

Dangerous status.

On the every day, I’m certain.

Somebody save Cowboy.

Even a pissed off GSP remains to be too healthful for his personal good.

Again at it.

How are you going to not love this man?

“So Dan, what would you like at this time?” Dan: “Sure.”

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Melsik Baghdasaryan (8-2) vs. Hyder Amil (8-0); UFC Vegas 86, Feb. 10

Luis Ronaldo Rodríguez (16-2) vs. Denys Bondar (19-4); UFC Mexico, Feb. 24

Daniel Zellhuber (14-1) vs. Francisco Prado (12-1); UFC Mexico, Feb. 24

Muhammad Naimov (10-2) vs. Erik Silva (9-2); UFC Mexico, Feb. 24

Cristian Quiñonez (18-4) vs. Raoni Barcelos (17-5); UFC Mexico, Feb. 24

Junior dos Santos (21-10) vs. Alan Belcher (18-8); Gamebred Bareknuckle, March 2

Robelis Despaigne (4-0) vs. Josh Parisian (15-7); UFC 299, March 9

Michel Pereira (29-11) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (19-6); UFC 299, March 9

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MVP wants two wins at most to earn a title shot. That is Michael Chandler — simply at welterweight — another time … simply far much less thrilling and far more flashy as a result of MVP doesn’t have good or thrilling fights. Thrilling performances? Clearly. Nicely, the finishes, at the least. Go forward and inform me when he’s ever had a back-and-forth “good” struggle, although. It hasn’t occurred. Perhaps Holland would be the man. Regardless, an fascinating run awaits us.

Thanks for studying!

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