Michael "Venom" Page is set to face Nursulton Ruziboev in Paris on Saturday, marking the final fight under his current UFC contract. The 39-year-old British fighter has had a mixed start in the UFC since joining in 2024, with four wins in five fights—all by decision. Page has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with his performance, stating he hasn’t achieved the level of success he hoped for and has yet to secure a stoppage victory. He has also expressed that he and the UFC are not as aligned as he initially believed, which has raised questions about his future in the organization.
Page has also questioned the frequency of his fights, expressing confusion over why the UFC has not scheduled him more regularly. A seasoned welterweight, he has fought twice at middleweight, defeating Sharabutdin Magomedov and Jared Cannonier. Despite his experience, an all-British matchup with Leon Edwards has not come to fruition, adding to his frustration with the promotion’s approach to his career.
Nursulton Ruziboev, Page’s opponent, is a 32-year-old fighter from Uzbekistan who joined the UFC in 2024. He brings 20 submission victories to his record and has competed in 50 MMA fights overall. In his five UFC bouts, he has four stoppage victories and one loss. While Ruziboev is considered the underdog, he is a dangerous opponent, especially with his strong grappling skills. This fight marks Page’s return to middleweight, a division he previously competed in before moving up to welterweight.
With this fight marking the end of his UFC contract, Page is now free to sign with other promotions. He has spent most of his MMA career in Bellator, and several rival organizations would likely be interested in signing him. However, Page is eager to meet with the UFC after Saturday to discuss his future. He sees this bout as an opportunity to re-establish his relationship with the organization and to gain clarity on what the UFC expects from him moving forward.
Michael Page to Face Nursulton Ruziboev in UFC Paris as Final Contract Fight
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