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In a recent interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Michael “Venom” Page expressed his desire for an all-European showdown against Ian Garry at the rumored UFC event in England this summer.
Page, who made a successful UFC debut by defeating Kevin Holland at UFC 299, is keen on continuing his momentum and believes a clash with Garry, especially amidst the England vs. Ireland rivalry, would create significant buzz among fans.
Reflecting on Garry's initial skepticism about his abilities, Page remarked,
“Considering he thought I wasn’t going to get past Kevin. ... There was an interview he did, I’m not sure on what, they asked him his views on me, he was like, ‘Who is he fighting? Oh he’s not going to beat Kevin. No way he gets past Kevin.’ Very dismissive. Which is fine. People ask me about my views, everyone is entitle to their opinion. There’s no need to be angry about it, but now I’ve gotten past and maybe you could stop me?"
This statement hints at the potential animosity and excitement such a matchup could generate.
Page is still sure that he can defeat Garry, even after Garry recently defeated Geoff Neal at UFC 298. Although he is aware of Garry's propensity to elicit strong feelings in people, he views this as a chance to increase interest in the fight.
“He’s a great fighter,” Page said. “Again, no need to be negative towards anybody. He’s sparked a lot of emotional reactions from a lot of people, from his personality, his performances, he’s doing good. But I definitely believe I can beat him, so why not?”
While Garry has also expressed interest in other matchups, including a fight with Colby Covington, Page is focused on his championship aspirations in the UFC. He recognizes the shift in his mindset from his time in Bellator, where he prioritized exciting fights over titles, to now actively pursuing both exciting performances and championship glory.
Page's desire for a showdown with Garry aligns with his newfound goal of securing the UFC title, indicating a shift in his approach and determination to achieve success at the highest level of MMA competition.