Page targets UFC contract renewal with must-win fight against Ruziboev at UFC Paris

Michael ‘Venom’ Page enters the final fight of his UFC contract this Saturday at Accor Arena in Paris, facing unranked welterweight Nursulton Ruziboev in what he openly acknowledges is a make-or-break moment for his future with the promotion.

Page, 39, has been candid about the disconnect between himself and the UFC since joining in 2023. “I feel like I haven’t delivered what I wanted to deliver,” he said at UFC Paris Media Day. “We don’t seem to be as aligned as I thought we would be. Maybe at the beginning I felt like we were; something’s changed. But either way, the goal is [to] keep stepping out there and kicking people in the face.”

The viral kickboxing star was handed an immediate high-profile opportunity against fan-favourite Kevin Holland on signing with the UFC, but a subsequent loss to Ian Machado Garry appeared to cool the promotion’s enthusiasm. Page went on to win at middleweight against Shara Bullet and ranked contender Jared Cannonier, only to then be matched against unranked welterweight Sam Patterson in March — and now faces another unranked opponent, raising questions about where exactly he fits into the UFC’s plans.

Page, however, is focused less on the matchmaking and more on the statement he needs to make. “Everyone always remembers the last performance, so this performance is key,” he said. “It’s specifically to remind the UFC why they brought me to this organization. And then remind the world as well — remind the fans, ‘Oh yeah, MVP can do this!’ Get them excited about seeing me again.”

A strong showing, Page hopes, will open the door to a more structured conversation with UFC management about his path forward. “This fight is important to reestablish myself with the UFC,” he said. “Then sit down with them and say, ‘OK, guys, can I have an idea of what you expect of me? Can I have an idea of what direction is best for me?’ I prefer if I have targets and an idea of what I’m supposed to do — then I go and attack it.”

UFC Paris is headlined by a lightweight contest between Dan Hooker and Salahdine Parnasse.