Michael “Venom” Page Aims To Be Royce Gracie Of Striking
Bellator welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page continued his rise through the sport in his home of London, England yesterday (July 16, 2016) at Bellator 158, scoring a brutal flying knee knockout over “Cyborg” Santos. “MVP” has made a name for himself by showcasing his flashy and unique striking style, and he plans to revolutionize the sport with that very skill set.
Speaking to MMAJunkie in the aftermath of the bout, the 29-year-old said that he’d like to be the Royce Gracie of striking:
“So many people have titles,” Page explained. “Not everyone can create a legacy in a sport.
“My standup style is completely different than anybody out there. That’s the kind of thing I want. The way the Gracies – Royce is here somewhere – what he did to the sport of MMA is what I want to do to the sport of MMA.”
Despite having three submission victories to his credit, striking is clearly the bread and butter of Page, and his puzzle hasn’t been solved to date as he boasts an undefeated professional record of 11-0. “Venom” has appeared to be on his way to stardom, and confidence has never been an issue for him, as he truly feels as if he’s the main attraction every time he fights. As for the future, “MVP” will simply look to keep knocking off opponents one by one:
“I always say, I don’t care who the main event is – I’m always the main event,” Page said. “I always go out to steal the show. I always go out to put on a show, and I know I have that ability.
“Again, Cyborg is a very credible opponent, and I wish him all the best. … But for me, it’s just another name. I keep saying it, but I genuinely believe for me, it’s just another name. I’m just ticking them off one by one.”
With his lengthy winning streak still intact, Page may very well be nearing a shot at 170-pound gold, although he isn’t necessarily in any rush to earn a title shot:
“I don’t chase titles. I genuinely feel the title will come to me when it comes to me. If I keep doing what I’m doing, it will come to me. Put as many people as you want before me. Let them have fun. When I’m ready to step in there, it will come to me.”
Have you been impressed by “MVP” thus far?
