A mega star is on his way to the world’s leading fight promotion.
On Saturday night, following the conclusion of UFC 296, Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White announced in the post-fight press conference that Michael Page would be fighting Kevin Holland at UFC 299 this upcoming year on Saturday, March 9th from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. This will be the company’s third-ever stop to the “Magic City” after UFC 42 in April of 2003 and UFC 287 in April of this year. The fight between Michael Page and Kevin Holland will take place in the welterweight division (170 pounds).
Rumors circulated earlier this year after Michael Page had spoken of his free agency following a nine-year tenure competing with Bellator MMA as well as the appearance of his own athlete page on the UFC’s company website. Further speculation took place when he was spotted in attendance at July’s UFC Fight Night 224 in London, England, although most presumed it was simply Page in support of his hometown crowd and fellow athletes. In late November, rumors were reignited with accidental video evidence captured from the UFC company headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada in an episode from the Full Send Podcast. Caught on camera showed a matchmaking board with that of Page and Holland’s name together indicating a possible fight. However, a contract may not have been signed at the time as Holland denied having been offered the meeting.
Although it is unclear when Page was signed with the promotion, it is now official that “Venom” will be making the company switch. The move comes at an interesting time after November’s huge announcement by the Professional Fighters League, run currently by President Ray Sefo, where they had acquired Bellator MMA in a merger of two of the world’s largest fight organizations. A majority of the latter’s roster is presumed to be combined with that of PFL MMA, but it is unknown as to what additional free agents may be looking towards an opportunity with the UFC.
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Englishman Michael Page, a former multi-promotional World Kickboxing Champion and Medalist, holds a professional mixed martial arts record with 21 victories in 23 appearances. He contested 18 times with Bellator MMA from May of 2014 to March of this year advancing to the semifinals in Bellator’s 2019 Welterweight World Grand Prix as well as fighting to a split decision loss for the interim Bellator Welterweight Championship in May of 2022. Page has secured victories over notable veterans Fernando Gonzalez, Paul Daley, Derek Anderson, Douglas Lima, and Goiti Yamauchi.
Page received honors for “Knockout of the Year” in the 2016 World MMA Awards for his second-round flying knee knockout of Evangelista Santos at Bellator 158. He has also competed in two professional boxing events between 2017 and 2018 as well as a Bare Knuckle FC fight with Mike Perry in August of 2022.
The 36-year-old is known by many throughout the MMA community for his viral interviews, flashy finishes, controversial cage moments, post-fight celebrations, and unorthodox fighting style.
Current UFC 299 Card (as of 12/17/23):
· Women’s Flyweight (125 LBS): Katlyn Chookagian vs. Maycee Barber ·
· Women’s Flyweight (125 LBS): Lauren Murphy vs. Karine Silva ·
· Flyweight (125 LBS): C.J. Vergara vs. Assu Almabayev ·
· Bantamweight (135 LBS): Pedro Munhoz vs. Kyler Phillips ·
· Bantamweight (135 LBS): Petr Yan vs. Song Yadong ·
· UFC Bantamweight Championship (135 LBS): Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera ·
· Lightweight (155 LBS): Mateusz Gamrot vs. Rafael dos Anjos ·
· Welterweight (170 LBS): Gilbert Burns vs. Jack Della Maddalena ·
· Welterweight (170 LBS): Ian Machado Garry vs. Geoff Neal ·
· Welterweight (170 LBS): Michael Page vs. Kevin Holland ·
· Heavyweight (265 LBS): Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almeida ·
