It’s safe to say Michael “Venom” Page didn’t exactly do himself any favors with the way he fought in his final contracted bout at UFC Paris. While the Englishman picked up a unanimous decision win, reports suggest he has not re-signed with the promotion.
Page spent most of the fight on his feet against Nursulton Ruziboev, but he couldn’t produce the flashy finish many fans were hoping for. Instead, he was met with boos from the crowd inside the Accor Arena. To make matters worse, Page was reportedly deemed ineligible for a spot in the 185-pound rankings, according to an email reportedly sent by journalist John Morgan.
Michael “Venom” Page was initially available to be ranked following his #UFCParís victory, but voters were notified this morning that is no longer the case. pic.twitter.com/2pPf7VILXx
— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) September 7, 2026
All of this has fueled speculation that the UFC could be ready to move on from MVP. Amid the buzz, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has shared his thoughts on Page’s performance in Paris. Speaking on his MMArcade podcast, “Bobby Knuckles” admitted that watching the Englishman fight can be a painful experience.
When asked about his latest win, he said, “I’m going to be honest with you, no. No, I can’t, because I didn’t even want to watch it, and I have nothing but respect for ‘MVP.’ His ability to do what he does at his age is crazy. It’s like he’s dancing in there. He’s so fast and fluid, but I find it so hard to tune in live to MVP winning via points, rather than watching it back afterwards.”
However, Whittaker also acknowledged that Page’s unique style makes him incredibly difficult to beat in a point-fighting battle. The Australian even joked that MVP seems to have a supernatural understanding of exactly what the judges are looking for and when he needs to turn things up.
He said, “I reckon there isn’t a single person that can beat MVP over point-sparring in the UFC. He’s so good at it.”
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He added, “I feel like it’s almost like he has a live feed of the judges’ scorecards, like, in real time. As soon as it starts to drop, he just does a little bit more, and it goes back up. He just does enough, which is the game, right? But man, it makes it hard to watch fights back when he’s doing that.”
If Page does end up leaving the UFC, he could walk away on the back of a four-fight winning streak. That run includes decision wins over Ruziboev, former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier, and Shara Magomedov.
His only defeat during that stretch came against Ian Garry at 170 pounds. Garry has since moved up the welterweight ladder and most recently challenged Islam Makhachev for the title at UFC 330.
Page now finds himself entering free agency at a fascinating point in his career. If the UFC decides not to bring him back, the 26-3 veteran could become an attractive option for rival promotions. With his four-fight winning streak and unique style, it will be interesting to see where “MVP” ends up next.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
