Michael Page opens up about Nursulton Ruziboev win at UFC Paris, aims to tweak his style and re-sign
Michael Page has given his candid assessment of his win over Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris and his UFC future.
Michael Page secured yet another victory with his elusive and unorthodox striking prowess, outpointing the dangerous Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris at the Accor Arena on September 5.
Nevertheless, certain sections of the MMA community criticized "MVP" for supposedly holding back in moments where they feel he could've pursued a finish against a hurt Ruziboev.
Page subsequently addressed the same, suggesting that he's aiming to tweak his fighting style a bit to deliver more exciting fights in the future.
Michael Page beats Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris but faces criticism; promises more thrilling performances and UFC return
Heading into the UFC Paris event, Michael Page had consistently maintained that he's interested in signing a new deal with the UFC; the Nursulton Ruziboev fight being the final one of his UFC contract.
The 39-year-old was quite vocal about his disappointment with the alleged stagnation in the UFC welterweight division, particularly lamenting the reigning welterweight kingpin Islam Makhachev's supposed inactivity as the 170-pound ruler.
Page had, as such, emphasized that he's gotten himself to focus on the UFC middleweight division and is confident about becoming the UFC's 185-pound champion.
During a backstage interview at the UFC Paris event, Page indicated that he's the best striker in the sport, warning that no one can match him in the stand-up department. The kickboxing savant implied, however, that he tends to be content with being too clean and technical at times.
Well, Page acknowledged that his fighting style has helped him emerge unscathed from fights, as seen in his latest Octagon outing as well, but it's a double-edged sword, as it also helps his opponents survive. Ergo, his style has prevented him from securing the flashy finishes he was known for outside the UFC, especially because, as he's often highlighted, the UFC has skilled fighters who can go the distance with him.
Promising to take greater risks to pursue the stoppage win and give the fans more exciting fights, Page stated, "The frustrating thing is I feel great, which sometimes means I haven't done enough. And the results show that I haven't done enough -- Probably need to push myself a little bit more, take a few more risks."
Moreover, alluding to his willingness to sign with the UFC again, he said, "You know, I sit down with the UFC, have an honest conversation with them, and say, 'Look, man. I know I can do better. I'm aspiring to do better. I'm up there. Give me better opponents. And I have faith that I can go out there and deliver something special for the crowd.'"
The veteran combatant underscored that he'd "doctor" his combat style, adding more volume to it, which might encourage opponents to engage with him and make him less dangerous. Regardless, he intends to test a few things in sparring and implement them in his ensuing fights.
Watch Michael "Venom" Page address his win at UFC Paris and more below:
🚨 Michael 'Venom' Page plans to change his style to introduce more volume, and hopes the UFC will re-sign him
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 5, 2026
"The results show that I haven't done enough. I need to push myself a little more, take a few more risks. I know there's more.
There's not one person in the world that… https://t.co/rJ1GX05H1D pic.twitter.com/Cz9WxqOtuT
A look at Bellator MMA veteran Michael "Venom" Page's UFC run thus far
Michael Page has long been considered one of the most skillful and innovative strikers to have ever graced the sport of mixed martial arts. The fearsome kickboxer, who's also tried his hand at boxing and bare-knuckle boxing, competed as one of the top stars under the Bellator MMA promotional banner for around a decade.
His UFC debut finally came to be in 2024, which witnessed him outpoint Kevin Holland at welterweight. It was followed by his being outpointed at the hands of Irish MMA star Ian Machado Garry later the same year.
In 2025, Page starred in a pair of middleweight matches, besting Shara Magomedov and one-time UFC middleweight championship challenger Jared Cannonier on the judges' scorecards.
Furthermore, Page then returned to welterweight and beat Sam Patterson by way of unanimous decision earlier this year. The Londoner's next, and latest, Octagon appearance was his unanimous decision win over Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris. Fans can expect updates concerning whether "Venom" will continue with the UFC or head elsewhere in the days to come.
