Michael ‘Venom’ Page admitted he was frustrated with his performance despite securing a unanimous decision victory over Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris on Saturday, with the bout marking the final fight on his current UFC contract.
Page landed 12 significant strikes across the three-round contest and was unable to drop Ruziboev during the 15-minute fight. The 39-year-old improved his UFC record to 5-1 with the victory but has yet to record a finish in six appearances for the promotion.
“The frustrating thing is I feel great,” said Page, as noted by MMA Fighting. “Sometimes, I haven’t done enough and the results show that I haven’t done enough. I probably need to push myself a little bit more, take a few more risks. Sometimes I want it to be too clean, too just precise. I just know to myself, I know there’s more and it’s frustrating as I get to the cage, I feel like I’m holding back. I want to give more. The fans deserve more, the UFC deserves more. I know I can give more. I feel like I’m almost there.”
Page, who built his reputation on highlight-reel finishes before joining the UFC, said he may need to make changes to his approach in an effort to produce more offence. “I’m going to have to doctor my style a little bit more,” said Page. “Maybe adapt it so people feel more comfortable coming forward and that also might make me slightly less dangerous but maybe over volume, I’ll still get it. I’ve got to go back to the drawing board. I don’t know the exact answer. Go back to the drawing board, test it out when I’m sparring and see what happens.”
With his current UFC deal now completed, Page is expected to hold talks with the promotion over his future. “I’ll sit down with the UFC and have an honest conversation,” said Page. “Look, I know I can do better. I’m aspiring to do better. Give me better opponents and have faith I can go deliver something special for the crowd.”
Page turned 39 in April and has compiled five victories from his six UFC appearances without recording a stoppage. His future with the promotion will now depend on whether the two sides agree terms on a new contract, with Page otherwise set to enter free agency ahead of 2027.
