Michael "Venom" Page won a unanimous decision over Nursulton Ruziboev at a UFC Fight Night event in Paris, but was subsequently removed from the UFC’s rankings. The decision came after Page finished his current contract with a 5-1 record in the promotion.
The UFC’s media rankings panel received an email stating that Page had been “removed from rankings eligibility effective immediately.” He was previously ranked No. 8 at middleweight in the UFC’s Meta rankings. Despite a professional record of 26-3, and winning his most recent fight, the UFC appears to be moving on from the fighter.
Analysts note that Page’s UFC fights have lacked finishes, with all six of his bouts going the distance. He has not earned any Performance of the Night bonuses. The style of fighting is described as appearing poised for explosive violence, but rarely delivering. The result is wins that feel like the opponent was simply prevented from winning, rather than being decisively defeated.
Page had expressed a desire to remain with the UFC, believing he had more to offer. While acknowledging his fights haven’t always been entertaining, he was willing to work on that. However, at nearly 40 years old and a veteran of over a decade, the UFC apparently decided it wasn’t worth the effort to find an opponent who would allow Page to showcase his skills. Matchmakers reportedly considered the task of finding a suitable opponent too difficult, opting instead to let his contract expire.
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