Michael Page is preparing to fight out the final bout on his current UFC contract, but the British star remains focused on one thing, securing the big fights he believes he has earned.
Page returns to action at UFC Paris on September 5, where he will face Nursulton Ruziboev in a middleweight showdown. While Page respects his opponent, he admits the matchup is not the type of fight he has been pushing for since joining the promotion.
The former Bellator standout has consistently called for higher-profile opponents, but those opportunities have yet to materialize. Now, with his UFC contract set to expire after UFC Paris, Page hopes one final statement performance will convince the promotion to keep him around and give him the marquee matchups he has been chasing.
“Yeah, this is the last fight on my deal,” Page told Ariel Helwani. “I don’t want it to be my last UFC fight. I just want to push for bigger fights. My goal is to get a belt, and I still feel more than capable. I know I can do it. I would like to get an extension, but get the UFC on the side that I want big names and a rough idea of how I would get to that belt.”
Despite compiling an impressive 4-1 record inside the Octagon, Michael Page has grown increasingly frustrated with the UFC’s matchmaking. According to “Venom,” securing a fight against a ranked contender has proven far more difficult than expected.
“In all honesty, it’s been frustrating,” Page said. “I feel like it’s crazy that I’ve reached the pinnacle of MMA and trying to get a name in the Top 10 seems very, very difficult. It’s excuse after excuse. Then we send another slate of names, and the same thing happens.”
“Nursulton is a tough opponent, but I was seeking bigger names, and I have been for the last three fights. Nobody seems to want to step in there. I’m genuinely asking for everybody. It just feels crazy that I’m competing in the toughest combat sport in the world, surrounded by the toughest guys, and it’s this hard to get those fights.”
Page revealed that he and his management team have repeatedly submitted lists of potential opponents, only to be met with obstacles ranging from injuries to previously scheduled matchups.
“The exchanges with the UFC matchmakers have been frustrating,” Page explained. “I throw names forward, asking from the top and working my way down. My manager, Audie Attar, presents them, and then we hear, ‘This person’s matched up,’ or ‘This person’s injured.'”
“It’s excuse after excuse. Then I send another slate of names, and the same thing happens.”
At this stage, Page says he is no longer focused on the politics behind the scenes. Instead, he plans to let his performances do the talking.
“I don’t want to get too stressed about the politics and everything. Let me go in there, put on a performance, make them want me to come back and do it again.”
Since arriving in the UFC in early 2024, Michael Page has enjoyed considerable success. His only defeat came against Ian Machado Garry, who is now set to challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC welterweight title. Since that setback, Page has rebounded with victories over Jared Cannonier, Shara Magomedov, and Sam Patterson.
However, despite his winning record, Page has yet to receive the elite-level opportunities he expected when signing with the promotion. The 39-year-old believes he still has what it takes to become a UFC champion, but he knows time is ticking.
For now, all eyes are on UFC Paris. A victory over Ruziboev could strengthen Michael Page’s case for a new contract and potentially open the door to the high-profile fights he has been demanding.
