When he announced the breaking news that he is now a free agent on The MMA Hour, Michael “Venom” Page had a whole table of options in front of him.
Throughout his 19-fight run with Bellator, Page also competed under kickboxing, boxing and most recently, bare-knuckle boxing rulesets.
In an interview with MMA Junkie, as he plans his next move, Page was asked why he thinks so many fighters make their way to the bare-knuckle sport towards the end of their careers.
Whilst Page dipped his toe in and came out relatively unscathed, he’s seemingly a huge exception to the rule.
Despite the inevitable damage that comes from it, Page stated that due to issues with fighter pay, veterans are forced to jump in the ring in order to secure a lucrative check at the end of their careers.
“It’s definitely the contracts, and this an issue nowadays,” Page said. "So, for example, if I related it, little side step, if I related it to football (soccer), you’re starting to see people at the end of their career go to Saudi Arabia. There’s a reason for that. There’s a big reason for that, these things wasn’t happening before, you know? They’ll probably end up at five a-side or Sunday league football and now they’re still major contracts, probably the biggest contracts they’ve had in their whole career at the end of their career. So, it’s the same thing.
“I think if people, not relating to kickboxing anymore, but I think in MMA, if they were getting paid well enough, then you wouldn’t see these type of transitions. People would be comfortable doing what they’ve always been doing well at and just stay there and, at the end of their career, they won’t be desperately looking for more funds because they should be set up better,” Page continued. “The amount that we put in, the amount we kill ourselves in the gym day in, day out, we should have an end for us to be able to feel, you know, good about what we’ve achieved financially as well.”
Michael Page Won’t Rule Out A Bare-Knuckle Return & Potential Rematch With Mike Perry
Whilst others do it to make some money before calling time on their careers, Michael Page tried his hand at bare-knuckle boxing under the BKFC banner to try and test himself.
Known for his elusive striking style, the question on everyone’s minds, including his, was how well does that work when you’re fighting in a phone box with no gloves. And having lost a majority decision, which he maintains he won, to the face of BKFC, “Platinum” Mike Perry, Page would like another shot in the gloveless sport.
Though it isn’t number one on his priority list now that he is a free agent, Page told MMA Junkie that he would be up for competing inside the ring once again and wants the rematch with Perry.
“I’d like to fight him again. But, at the same time, yeah, both,” Page stated. “I’d like to fight him again but I’d like to just experience that again (bare-knuckle boxing), so it’s definitely not a door closed for me. I probably won’t chase it down but it’s definitely not a door closed for me.”
BKFC should implement Bare Knuckle Muay Thai
Funny these guys always say the grass i greener on the other side but i never see what they get paid
If they are at the end of the careers it would make sense that they wouldn’t necessarily be earning the big paydays
But they’re ok with going to get brain damaged in BKFC
I mean yeah, it is pretty much accepted these days that aging fighters will end up in BKFC. I’m glad to see them getting paid well elsewhere but I don’t really enjoy the extra brain damage.
Not To Mention