UFC 319: Michael ‘Venom’ Page says competing in UFC is ‘biggest weight I’ve ever felt’

The fight with 41-year-old Cannonier represents Page’s second successive bout at middleweight after he ended Magomedov’s undefeated reign in February.

After spending the majority of his 13-year career at welterweight, Page says he has chosen to move up because he was struggling to secure fights in the lower weight class.

“Nobody at welterweight seems to like action – it’s a slow division,” said Page.

“I think there’s a lot of people in the latter stage of their careers, so for them every fight means something a bit more.

“They don’t want to take a risky fight, and I feel I represent a lot of risk because of the style I bring.”

Page’s only title fight during his career was against American Logan Storley for the interim welterweight belt in 2022, where he suffered a split decision defeat.

Page says competing in fights that “turn heads” is his main goal during the twilight of his career, but he has not given up on becoming a world champion.

The middleweight belt will be on the line in the main event at Chicago’s United Centre as South African champion Dricus du Plessis faces Russia’s Khamzat Chimaev.

“With someone so experienced and dangerous, I can’t look past Jared,” said Cannonier.

“But my goal is to get a title fight in my last run. For me I feel like this is my last lap in MMA, and I want to retire from MMA before MMA retires me,” said Page.

“I’m doing a lot of work in the background to set up the next stage of my life, so for now it’s about getting big fights and pushing towards the title.”