Michael Page (fighter)

Early life

Page was born in St Mary's Hospital, London to Curtis Page Sr. and Pauline Reece, who were both Lau Gar kung fu practitioners. His father hailed from Trinidad while his mother, a nurse, was from Jamaica. Page is a maternal nephew of Lau Gar Master Stan Brown, who was also the instructor of his father. He has nine siblings, three of whom are adopted. Page attended Quintin Kynaston School in St John's Wood, alongside Olympian judoka Ashley McKenzie. He grew up in NW8 near Edgware Road and Lisson Green before moving to W10 near Queen's Park in 2003.

Kickboxing career

His father Master Curtis Page Sr. – a three-time kickboxing world champion – was his instructor. Of his nine siblings, his sister Sefena and brothers Curtis Jr., Jamie, and Kalon are also kickboxing world champions. Since almost everyone in his family were involved in martial arts, he felt it was natural to follow suit.

Page began training in Lau Gar at the age of 3 and competed at his first kickboxing tournament at the age of 5. By the age of 8, he began to devote himself to competition and entered his first international tournament in Germany.

Page has won ten world championships in kickboxing – his first was at the US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships 1998 in Orlando, Florida when he was 12 years old – and was crowned British champion over twenty-five times. By the age of 13, Page started entering adult competitions. To prepare, he would train five hours a day for five days a week. During tournament days he would often fight up to fourteen times due to competing in three weight classes, and at one point fought twenty-two times in a day across five weight classes. Another world title win was at the W.A.K.O. World Championships 2007 (Coimbra) where, at the −89 kg semi-contact division, he won the gold medal after defeating Dave Heffernan. He also competed at the W.A.K.O. Austrian Classics Worldcup 2008 (Kufstein), winning gold in the −84 kg semi-contact division over Krisztián Jároszkievicz. Page returned the following year to win gold at the W.A.K.O. Austrian Classics Worldcup 2009 (Walchsee), placing first in both the −84 kg light-contact and semi-contact divisions, defeating Bojan Miskovic and Zvonimir Gribl respectively. Page – appointed as the WKA Head Coach – led a team to the WKA World Championships 2009 (Huelva), defeating Ben Stewart to claim gold in the organization's first semi-contact prize competition and bronze in the −90 kg light-contact division, upon being bested by Tarek Haydar. He then participated in the W.A.K.O. World Championships 2009 (Lignano Sabbiadoro) and finished second in the −84 kg semi-contact division, after being defeated by Krisztián Jároszkievicz. On 4 September 2010, he competed at the World Combat Games 2010 (Beijing) in the −89 kg semi-contact division, where he won silver, losing out on gold to the division winner Krisztián Jároszkievicz.

Page was scouted by the Great Britain Taekwondo team to train for the Olympics but turned it down to pursue a professional combat sports career.

When not competing Page trains others in kickboxing, primarily as an instructor at the Great Britain Martial Arts Academies throughout Surrey which also hosts the Hands Down Interclub tournament.

Background

Dissatisfied with the lack of exposure as well as the politics involved in competing among various kickboxing associations, Page decided to cross over into mixed martial arts. He initially considered going to American Top Team during his transition into MMA since his older siblings live in Miami but chose to start his career with London Shootfighters in July 2011, training with the likes of John Hathaway, Cláudio da Silva, Karlos Vemola, Alex Reid, Marcin Held, Jim Wallhead, and Marc Diakiese. Page also sparred with Alexander Gustafsson, James DeGale, Che Mills, Chris Eubank, Jr., Frank Muñoz, Dereck Chisora, Muhammed Lawal, and Andrew Tate. He entertained the possibility of fighting at lightweight. Page spends up to seven hours training in the gym, and does not undergo IV therapy after cutting weight.

UCMMA

Page made his MMA debut at UCMMA 26 against Ben Dishman on 4 February 2012 and won via technical knockout from a first round tornado kick. His original opponent Sam Boo withdrew a week before the fight. The fight went viral which drew comparisons between Page and Anderson Silva. He was paid £200 for the bout.

On 7 April 2012, Page faced Miguel Bernard at UCMMA 27 in a 176 lb catchweight bout despite weighing in at 165 lb. Page won in the first round after forcing Bernard to tap out upon transitioning from a triangle choke into an armbar.

Page briefly returned to kickboxing when he fought in a UK-1 bout on 18 August 2012 at UCMMA 29. Page was supposed to challenge UCMMA UK-1 welterweight champion Peter Irving for the belt. However, Irving pulled out of the fight due to a neck injury and was replaced by Jefferson George after another three opponents dropped out within a month for undisclosed reasons. Page won after knocking out George from a two punch combination in the second round.

Super Fight League

On 24 June 2012, Super Fight League announced that they had signed Michael Page to an exclusive year and a half, four-fight contract.

Page made his promotional debut on 2 November 2012 at SFL 7 as the main event against Haitham El-Sayed, winning by technical knockout in round one via doctor stoppage due to cuts.

Page returned to Super Fight League on 12 April 2013 to face Ramdan Mohamed at SFL 15 as the main event and won via rear-naked choke in the first round.

Bellator MMA

After winning his UK-1 fight against Jefferson George, Page announced post-fight that he signed a five-fight contract with Bellator MMA, and that he will fight for both Bellator and Super Fight League under their respective contracts.

Page was expected to make his promotional debut at Bellator 82 but pulled out of the bout citing surgery for an old jaw injury. Another potential yet unannounced debut at Bellator 90 against Sean Powers was cancelled for undisclosed reasons.

Page made his debut on 21 March 2013 at Bellator 93. He faced Ryan Sanders and won via knockout at ten seconds into the first round.

Page was scheduled to fight Kenny Ento at Bellator 102 but had to withdraw due to a rib cartilage injury, an ankle injury, and a knee injury. A later appearance slated for Bellator 109 against Andrew Osborne was also cancelled because of lingering injuries.

Page was slated to fight Fight Master: Bellator MMA contestant Marcus Aurelio at Bellator 120 on 17 May 2014 but Aurelio withdrew. Ricky Rainey was immediately sought as a replacement after his Bellator 116 victory and was informed of his opponent a week later. Page won via technical knockout in the first round.

Page next faced Nah-Shon Burrell at Bellator 128 as the co-main event on 10 October 2014. He won via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). His performance elicited praise from Anderson Silva.

On 19 December 2014, Michael Page confirmed that he was no longer contracted with Super Fight League and instead signed an exclusive two year, five-fight contract extension with Bellator.

Page was expected to face Curtis Millender at Bellator 134 on 27 February 2015. However, Page pulled out of the fight due to a cut over his left eye which was sustained during a guard passing drill and required six stitches. He was replaced by Brennan Ward.

Page faced Rudy Bears at Bellator 140 on 17 July 2015. He won by knockout in the first round.

Page fought Charlie Ontiveros at Bellator 144 on 23 October 2015 with less than three weeks' notice after four opponents – including his initial opponent Marius Žaromskis and later Cristiano Souza – pulled out of the fight for undisclosed reasons. Page won via verbal submission due to elbows in the first round after dislocating Ontiveros' jaw.

He was expected to fight Fernando Gonzalez on 4 March 2016 at Bellator 151 as the co-main event but withdrew from the bout as he was already committed to officiate at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2016 (Dublin) as coach of the Top Ten UK team. He was replaced by Gilbert Smith.

Page defeated Jeremie Holloway at Bellator 153 on 22 April 2016, submitting him with an inverted toe hold in round one.

Page's fight with Fernando Gonzalez was rescheduled for Bellator 158 on 16 July 2016 but after visa issues forced Gonzalez to withdraw Page instead fought Evangelista Santos. He won by knocking out Santos with a flying knee in the second round. Santos had to undergo surgery afterwards due to a depressed frontal sinus fracture. The fight went viral partly due to the Pokémon Go-inspired post-fight celebration. Lennox Lewis was impressed by Page's performance.

On July 2016, Bellator claimed that Page re-signed with the promotion and had four fights left on his contract. However, Page stated that he did not re-sign but had two fights left from existing contractual provisions.

Page fought Fernando Gonzalez on 19 November 2016 at Bellator 165 as the co-main event. He won the fight via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28).

A proposed bout between Page and Paul Daley was targeted for Bellator 179 but negotiations fell through after Daley refused the fight. Page was supposed to fight Derek Anderson but an old knee injury forced him off the card. Daley attempted to brawl with Page after losing his fight. Another fight with Daley was proposed for September 2017 in London but was turned down by Daley, who instead opted to fight Lorenz Larkin at Bellator 183.

He has two fights left on his contract.

Page will pursue his MMA career while boxing.

Boxing career

On 12 July 2017, it was announced that Page had signed with Hayemaker Ringstar, a promotional joint venture of David Haye and Richard Schaefer. Page began training under the tutelage of Ismael Salas at Hayemaker Gym on 27 July 2017, alongside Joe Joyce, Qais Ashfaq, and Willy Hutchinson. While he still trains at London Shootfighters, he spends four days a week training at Hayemaker Gym. Page compared the transition from MMA to boxing to a "sprinter turning into a long distance runner." He did commentary for Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor in Las Vegas with Mike Costello and Steve Bunce on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Page will compete at super middleweight and is expected to make his pro debut on 20 October 2017 at indigo at The O2. He was supposed to make his pro boxing debut on the undercard of Haye vs. Bellew but was still negotiating with Bellator at the time.

Fighting style

Page describes his discipline as a "hands down kickboxing style" created from a "mishmash" of taekwondo, karate, and kung fu styles competing under a points scoring ruleset. As a movement-based fighter his game plan revolves around controlling distance. He engages in histrionics while fighting to maintain focus, unnerve his opponents, and rile up the crowd.

Personal life

Curtis Page Sr., Pauline Reece, Simon Lewis, and Marvin Francis are the biggest influences in his combat sports career.

Kickboxers such as Simon Lewis, Richard King, Richard Palmer, Faisel Mohammed, Andy Brooks, Alfie Lewis, and Matthew Winsper inspired his style.

Page's favourite fight was a points fighting bout between Simon Lewis versus Matthew Winsper.

Page received the moniker "Venom" from fellow kickboxer Marvin Francis in homage of the film Five Deadly Venoms.

His "snake-sign" hand gesture was inspired by The Rock.

Page is an avid salsa and street dancer. He also practiced capoeira in his youth.

Champion freerunner Timothy Shieff trained Page in parkour.

Movement pioneer Ido Portal worked with Page in movement workshops.

He is a yoga practitioner.

The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Goldberg, and The Undertaker are his favourite pro wrestlers.

Page is a huge Marvel fan, his favourite characters are Deadpool, Cloak, and the Hulk.

His favourite martial artist is Jackie Chan.

Chuck Liddell was one of the few mixed martial artists Page enjoyed watching before becoming an MMA fighter.

Pernell Whitaker, Naseem Hamed, Muhammad Ali, Roy Jones Jr., and Vasyl Lomachenko are his favourite boxers.

He is a fan of Manchester United F.C., the Los Angeles Kings, and Miami Heat.

Page played for the Queens Park Rangers Youth Team and Epsom Eagles F.C. and was scouted by Fulham F.C. and Queens Park Rangers F.C. He was also offered a scholarship to play collegiate basketball in the United States.

He was trained as a spin bowler at Lord's Cricket Ground.

Page was trained by his father in slalom skiing with the intention of qualifying for the Olympics.

He refrains from recreational drug use.

Sponsorships

He was sponsored by Myprotein, Bad Boy, Fighter Training, Fit Fuel, Fight Camp, ONE87 Supplements, Noyo Food, M.J.Jones Exclusive, Multipower Sportsfood, Grips Athletics, and Caged Steel.

He was filmed for a promo advertising the release of Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Page was a guest for the UK premiere of the The Hurt Business at the October 2016 MCM London Comic Con.

Page was filmed in a private entry for the Reebok "Be More Human" campaign.

Page collaborated with the Metal Matic Music Group for his entrance theme song, "H.D.B.A. (Hands Down Best Around)."

Kickboxing

Mixed martial arts