Michael Page Still Focused on Return to Welterweight: 'I Can See My Path to the Top'

Michael Page made an immediate impact at 185 pounds at UFC Saudi Arabia.

The flashy striker handed Sharabutdin Magomedov his first career defeat in the evening’s middleweight co-headliner, winning a unanimous decision at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While “Shara Bullet” displayed a penchant for the spectacular in previous Octagon appearances, he struggled to find openings against Page.

“This is the reason why I called him out. I could see my style fit his style,” Page said on the ESPN post-fight show. “As much as he’s an exceptional striker, I’ve seen that before. I knew he would be a bit more tentative with me bouncing in front of him … He likes to kick. I’ve seen all the best kicks in the world. I’m never fazed with any kick.”

While the victory might create some more options for “Venom,” the Brit is still eyeing a return to the welterweight division, where he has competed for the majority of his career.

“I’ve just got goals at 170,” Page said. “I think 170 at the moment, although Belal’s got the belt, I think it’s still moving … I don’t think it’s solidified with any one person. There’s a lot of moving parts. A lot of people that don’t normally lose are losing at the moment. I can see my path to the top, so I want to make that happen.

“…Maybe [middleweight is] something I need to consider and sit down with my team. I think at the moment I can still see a path to success and victory at [welterweight].”

After building his highlight reel under the Bellator MMA banner, Page has been victorious in two of his first three UFC appearances. However, all three of his bouts have gone the distance thus far. It’s something he hopes to change as he grows more comfortable in the Octagon.

“I’m always hard on myself. My output, it should have been a lot more …. I’m definitely happy with the result. The performance, I always want to be better,” he said. “I’m always searching for that highlight-reel knockout — the reason why the UFC wanted to sign me in the first place. I know it’s there.

“Maybe I do need to get a little bit more comfortable with the magnitude of the UFC. I think it does change it. At first I was like, ‘There’s no way. I’m MVP. I’ve done these big things before.’ But I’m definitely a lot more hesitant here than I was when I was fighting elsewhere. That will slowly change the more and more I do this.”