Michael Page did not expect to be kept. He expected a phone call.
The UFC declined to re-sign Page after he fought out his contract with a decision win over Nursulton Ruziboev in Paris less than two weeks ago. He went 5-1 in the promotion. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, he said the ending was the problem rather than the decision.
I had goals to achieve and regardless of anything, I was winning my fights, which says to me you get to stay. That’s the premise of this game, is success should breed more opportunities. So I still felt like we’ll sit down at the table.
He had even worked out how the conversation would go.
I felt what may happen is they just say, ‘Look, we can re-sign you, but it’s going to be a lot less money,’ and we work from there. But I wouldn’t have expected it to be dealt with in a way that it was dealt with. I found that quite disrespectful, to be fair.
He found out the way everyone else did. Page was removed from rankings eligibility and Dana White made clear the promotion was finished with him.
I was just chilling on holiday, and I see I’m getting messages from people, I’m seeing the clip. I’m like, ‘OK, I guess that’s where we’re at.’ I’m always happy to have a conversation regardless. It could be a difficult one or an easy one.
The second grievance is the microphone. Page was not given a post-fight interview in Paris, the second time that has happened after a win, following his decision over Sam Patterson in London in March.
You’ve seen fights that have been absolutely terrible, and they still get to go on the mic and say their piece. So, this is the second time it’s happened to me. I feel like, especially if you knew you weren’t going to re-sign me, what was the harm in even allowing me to speak to my fans, speak to the Paris crowd who are amazing? I don’t understand who makes those calls, to know who I’d even go to, to be like, ‘What’s that about?’
He is not leaving bitter about the people.
I sent a nice message to the guys, as well, because, regardless of this, I enjoyed my time. I always go on about the staff and the team there. They’re great.
White has said the matchmakers made the call and did not want to re-sign him. Jake Paul has since claimed he will sign Page to MVP MMA, and Dave Feldman has said BKFC would take him back.
