Michael ‘Venom’ Page discloses in a moment away from sparring to being in the midst of his toughest training camp – ‘extremely tired’ – but heads into the most important fight of his life against Douglas Lima on May 11 in the Bellator MMA welterweight tournament quarter finals in Rosemont, Illinois.
“I’m extremely tired, but I’m still ready to kick off,” explained the Londoner, having been training with Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi and Costello van Steenis, also a 185 pound fighter. “I went out to do some sparring with him. It was good. The guys were very welcoming. Got a lot of rounds in and it was a good experience.”
“Gegard is slightly bigger than Lima, a lot wider. It was really good to get the experience and test myself against them. I feel every time I fight it’s the most important fight of my life. Every fight is equally as important because you always want the same result.”
‘Legit’ is one of those terms frequently used in MMA of fighters who reach the elite level, and this is seen as one of those contests for Page, given Lima’s rounded style and ability to go anywhere from on the feet, to the clinch, to the mat. Could this be ‘that fight’ for Page, when any doubt is erased from his sternest critics if his arm gets raised. But the toughest test, surely, stylistically … “I don’t know. Everyone’s got their own opinion on it,” Page told The Telegraph.
“For me, I respect him highly and have done for a long time. I’ve studied his past fights and as a person, he’s a great test of my abilities. That’s just down to me as an athlete. I’m not treating him any differently. I’m on my own journey. I do agree it’ll be a massive accomplishment, but it’s another fight.”
Page, of course, might have been in an altogether different position had the tournament draw been different. Is it good not be in with someone like Jon Fitch, who challenges Rory MacDonald here in San Jose at Bellator 220 for both the title belt, and a place in the last four. “I actually the way the tournament has been out together has lined up pretty well,” explained Page, record 14-0.
“All the strikers are on one side and the grapplers are on the other. It’s done very well.” So, what is his take on Rory vs Fitch on Saturday night (Live on Sky Sports Arena at 3am on Sunday morning).
“I feel like Rory MacDonald is the lot more complete fighter. Obviously a lot more established and recognised. He’s done more in his career. Jon’s been around a long time. I feel like he could sit back. It could happen for three out of the five rounds, get some takedowns and sit on you like he does. Do just enough work. He’s good at doing that.”
“It was funny when Paul was fighting him complaining about something he’s always done. I don’t know what he was expecting. That kind of style can catch anybody out. Rory is experienced enough to not let that happen, but everyone can have a bad day at the office. Fitch could win that.” Page heads to Chicago fairly late for the May 11 Bellator showdown with Brazilian Lima, the former welterweight king of the fight league.
“I’m going to do as much work as I can and will not go out until Monday or Tuesday,” he explained, as we drive full circle to be present in his camp. “I’m tired in a good way. You just feel crap. This is always the hardest part. What tends to happen at the end of the camp is you’re doing a hell of a lot of work.”
“The last week you pull everything back to be shorter and sharper. Your body starts to feel better. It’s been back to back camps because of the quick turnaround compared to previous fights. My body is really feeling it.”
On the strong Bellator 220 card, Briton Liam McGeary rematches American Phil Davis at light heavyweight, the east of England fighter, now relocated to Hawaii, having lost the crown to Davis in 2016.