The final time Michael ‘Venom’ Web page contested an MMA combat at middleweight it was in Mumbai nearly 12 years in the past.
Web page, then 26, was showing in simply his fifth bout and was competing in India for the second time in 5 months.
The Englishman made quick work of his opponent, securing a first-round submission.
Web page, who has fought most of his profession as a welterweight, has good reminiscences of the journey and remembers how naive he was to the skilled world of MMA.
“I used to be nonetheless new to the game. I did not know what was good and unhealthy. You possibly can inform what’s organised or not, however you did not know if that was regular or not,” Web page mentioned.
“Once we had been warming up for the combat, me and my opponent had been mainly warming up in the identical room, which is bizarre.”
Quick ahead to 1 February 2025 and Web page is dealing with unbeaten UFC middleweight sensation Sharabutdin Magomedov in Saudi Arabia.
They won’t be anticipated to heat up in the identical room earlier than making their walks to the octagon.
“Shara has that [aura] round him however I can see in his skill one thing I can exploit,” Web page mentioned.
“If I put the ‘MVP’ impact in entrance of him, it would destroy all of that. There’s simply one thing I noticed there that made sense to me.”
At 15-0, seven years his junior and on the hunt for a title shot at 185lb, Magomedov is a frightening prospect for any middleweight, not to mention a fighter stepping up in weight.
Web page, 37, has a win and a loss since becoming a member of the UFC final 12 months. He intends to return to welterweight and has his sights set on a title run.
However the alternative to combat Magomedov, who has 12 knockouts in his 15 wins, was a problem Web page could not flip down. And it meant Web page might nonetheless get pleasure from his Christmas dinner.
“I nonetheless had an excellent Christmas,” he mentioned.
“If there may be thrilling fights to be made at middleweight, I might fortunately take it. However the focus is a welterweight championship belt.
“I’ll try to dedicate as a lot as my time at welterweight to get that belt and transfer up within the rankings.”
Magomedov, 30, gained his final combat in unbelievable vogue in opposition to Armen Petrosyan, touchdown a proper backfist earlier than spinning spherical to land the identical shot along with his left hand.
Web page says no-one has been capable of give you the fitting gameplan to beat Magomedov, however feels his personal “unorthodox” putting model might be good for his opponent’s aggressive strategy.
“No one’s bought it fairly proper but. My time to point out everybody,” Web page mentioned.
“It will be an explosive combat and somebody will stroll on to one thing ugly.
“It is an awesome combat which is why I believe so many individuals are excited for it as a result of our types appears to be like prefer it’ll create fireworks.”
