If British standout Michael ‘Venom’ Page does end up inking a UFC contract, there is one highly-regarded member of the organisation’s welterweight division who would be more than happy to meet him in the Octagon.
MVP, the 36-year-old Londoner who has represented Bellator for the past decade, is one of the sport’s more high profile free agents currently and has been strongly linked to a move to the UFC; speculation which intensified when Page was featured prominently on the broadcast of the UFC’s most recent event in the English capital this summer.
Page has stoked the flames of these rumours, stating this week that he doesn’t believe he requires a warm-up fight should his move to the UFC become official — and this is a statement which has apparently piqued the interest of one of the 170-pound division’s biggest prospects.
How about #6? @Michaelpage247 https://t.co/GKjxcHGDcE
— Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov (@Rakhmonov1994) August 23, 2023
In response to a news story about ‘MVP’ calling for a top-ten opponent, Kill Cliff FC fighter Shavkat Rakhmanov (above left) indicated on social media that he would gladly put his #6 spot on the welterweight ladder on the line to welcome Page to the UFC.
Rakhmanov, the 28-year-old unbeaten Kazakh, is generally considered to be one of the most promising 170-pound fighters on the planet. He is a perfect 5-0 in the UFC, finishing each of his foes in the UFC cage (Geoff Neal, Neil Magny, Carlston Harris, Michel Prazeres and Alex Oliveira). He has not competed since his third round submission win against Neal in March and remains without a fight booked after a proposed September fight with Kelvin Gastelum fell apart after the American suffered a facial fracture during his preparation.
