Michael ‘Venon’ Page: Time to Deliver
It’s been a long time coming for Michael Page and I don’t mean just his long-awaited grudge match with Paul Daley which takes place this Saturday at Bellator 216 in Connecticut. Page is talented and charismatic but he seems to have been around for years and he hasn’t yet progressed to the elite level of the sport.
Inactivity, injuries and dabbling in boxing have all hindered his progress in MMA. Page made his debut in 2012 and his record currently stands at 13-0. Page makes his first appearance in a Bellator cage since he taunted David Rickels in May last year.
MMA is a sport where any glimpses of talent usually sees you fast-tracked to the front of the queue, but Page is still yet to make that leap. Finally, it looks as though Page is making the move as his fight with his arch-rival forms part of the Bellator welterweight grand prix, we will finally get to see how good he really is.
Rory MacDonald, Jon Fitch and Douglas Lima will all prove acid tests in the tournament, Page is heavily favoured to beat Daley, but winning the grand prix he sits behind MacDonald, Fitch and Lima in the betting odds.
Page is still only 31 and hopefully, all his efforts are now focussed on MMA, he is the sort of fighter who could potentially be a true superstar in the sport.
Daley in the twilight of his long career is the sort of test Page needs. ‘Semtex’ despite being a veteran of the sport still carries the power to wipe out anything his opponents have done previously in the fight. All the clowning and the taunting Page will surely do needs to be done with an air of caution on Saturday night, one mistake could leave him waking up with his undefeated record gone.
Bellator are doing great things in the sport, the recent UK TV deal with Sky Sports is a major breakthrough and will certainly help their brand in Europe. If Page shines in the grand prix they could have something very special on their hands, but now its time for Page to deliver in the cage.
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