Michael Page

Michael Jerome Reece-Page (born 7 April 1987), better known as Michael "Venom" Page or MVP, is an English professional mixed martial artist.

He currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

As of 12 March 2024, he is #13 in the UFC welterweight rankings.

He is recognized in the MMA community for his unorthodox fighting style, which originated from freestyle kickboxing (points fighting) and sport karate.

He has also competed professionally as a kickboxer, boxer and bare-knuckle boxer.

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, a British Telecom employee, 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.

Page won 10 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 25 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 14 times due to competing in three weight classes, and at one point fought 22 times in a day across five weight classes.

He grew up in NW8 near Edgware Road and Lisson Green before moving to W10 near Queen's Park in 2003.

Since almost everyone in his family was involved in martial arts, he felt it was natural to follow suit.

His father, Curtis Page Sr. was his instructor.

Of his nine siblings, his sister Sefena and brothers Curtis Jr., Jamie, and Kalon are also kickboxing champions.

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.

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 gold 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 participated at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2008 (Dublin), earning silver in the −84 kg semi-contact division after falling short to Raymond Daniels.

Page then won 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 returned to participate in the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2009 (Dublin) but was defeated by Raymond Daniels, placing second in the −84 kg semi-contact division.

Page – appointed as the WKA Head Coach – led a team to the WKA World Championships 2009 (Huelva), defeating James Benjamin Stewart to claim gold in the organisation'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 −84 kg semi-contact division, where he earned silver, losing gold to Krisztián Jároszkievicz.

Page fought Raymond Daniels at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2011 (Dublin), securing silver in the −84 kg semi-contact division.

Page was scouted by the Great Britain Taekwondo team to train and qualify 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 Hands Down Martial Arts Academies throughout Surrey.

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.

Page spends up to seven hours training in the gym, and does not undergo IV therapy after cutting weight.

He cross-trains Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Gracie Barra.

Page is represented by Paradigm Sports Management.

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 day before the fight.

The fight went viral and comparisons were drawn between Page and Anderson Silva.

He was paid £200 for the bout.