MMA great Josh Barnett cites warning signs about Misfits after Michael Venom Page's 7-figure-pay claims

MMA legend Josh Barnett has chimed in on the debates and discussions sparked by Michael "Venom" Page's recent remarks regarding his (Page's) new Misfits Boxing deal. 

Michael Page's UFC exit, signing with KSI co-founded Misfits

In his latest appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Michael Page addressed his recent UFC exit, as the promotion chose not to re-sign him to a new deal despite his accruing a 5-1 record with them and winning his latest MMA fight in the UFC. The 39-year-old also asserted that he's recently signed a new three-fight deal with the Misfits combat sports organization. 

"MVP" indicated that it entails an expiration date of 18 months, and it permits him to compete in both boxing and MMA under the Misfits banner. The Englishman noted that he'll be earning a seven-figure payday per fight with Misfits, which he affirmed is much higher than what he earned in his UFC career. It seemingly caught many fans and experts by surprise. 

Additionally, Page implied that he's allowed to compete in grappling contests outside of the MVP promotional realm, but his striking contests are reportedly exclusive to the Misfits organization. He even hailed Misfits co-founder and representative -- YouTuber and now-retired boxer KSI -- for their longstanding bond and new business association. 

Josh Barnett warns about Misfits' strategy after Michael "Venom" Page's seven-figure payday claims

Josh Barnett has long been beheld as a legend in the sport of MMA. The grappling savant last competed in the sport back in 2016, submitting ex-UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski in their UFC clash. 

Barnett, who is himself a former UFC heavyweight champion, subsequently ventured into the bare-knuckle combat sphere. "The Warmaster" defeated Marcin Rozalski by way of TKO in a hybrid bare-knuckle boxing match, wherein elbows were permitted, under the KSW banner in Poland in 2020. 

The veteran American combatant has also made a mark as a professional wrestler, actor, and more -- earning widespread praise for his submission grappling skills as well. Needless to say, Barnett is closely associated with combat sports happenings and has now weighed in on Michael Page's claims about his lucrative Misfits contract. 

Barnett appeared to suggest that Page was probably simply generating hype with his seven-figure per-fight payday claim about his Misfits deal. Alternatively, he warned that if Page's claims are true, then Misfits might be on the way to financial ruin, which would ultimately hurt the fighters. 

Taking to X, Barnett wrote, "'7-figures + per fight.'" 

The 48-year-old continued, "Either Page is telling a very bold lie for publicity sake... Or MVP (the org) has decided to run the same old formula of: jumping into the MMA market, overspending like mad, burning through all their capital in record speed, and soon to be another gravestone in the marketplace due to either incompetence or intent to raise and burn capital on the way to fire-sailing what remains (that'd be the IP, library, all those fighter's contracts) in what amounts to cash grab scam with the skinsuit of making a top tier MMA company/UFC competitor." 

Barnett noted, "See: EliteXC, Affliction, IFL, G|FL, WSOF, etc." He added, "Oh, and it's the FIGHTERS in the end who truly get scr**ed over...again." 

It's noteworthy that the legendary Barnett later clarified the typo, as he mistakenly named the MVP organization while actually referring to the Misfits organization. 

"7-figures + per fight" Either Page is telling a very bold lie for publicity sake... Or MVP (the org) has decided to run the same old formula of: jumping into the MMA market, overspending like mad, burning through all their capital in record speed, and soon to be another gravestone in the marketplace due to either incompetence or intent to raise and burn capital on the way to fire-saling what remains (that'd be the IP, library, all those fighter's contracts)in what amounts to cash grab scam with the skinsuit of making a top tier MMA company/UFC competitor. See: EliteXC, Affliction, IFL, G|FL, WSOF, etc. Oh, and it's the FIGHTERS in the end who truly get screwed over...again.

— 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 (@JoshLBarnett) October 13, 2026

*Misfits not MVP

— 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 (@JoshLBarnett) October 13, 2026