-
KO/TKO14/857%
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SUB14/321%
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DEC14/321%
Background
Page was born in St Mary’s Hospital, London to Curtis Page Sr. and Pauline Reece, who were both Lau Gar kung fupractitioners.[9] His father, a British Telecom employee, hailed from Trinidad while his mother, a nurse, was from Jamaica.[5][6][10][11] Page is a maternal nephew of Lau Gar Master Stan Brown, who was also the instructor of his father.[12][13] He has nine siblings, three of whom are adopted.[14] Page attended Quintin Kynaston School in St John’s Wood, alongside Olympian judoka Ashley McKenzie.[15][16] He grew up in NW8 near Edgware Road and Lisson Greenbefore moving to W10 near Queen’s Park in 2003.[12][15][17] Since almost everyone in his family was involved in martial arts, he felt it was natural to follow suit.[18][19]
Kickboxing career
His father, Curtis Page Sr. was his instructor.[18][20] Of his nine siblings, his sister Sefena and brothers Curtis Jr., Jamie, and Kalon are also kickboxing champions.[5][21][22]
Page began training in Lau Gar at the age of 3 and competed at his first kickboxing tournament at the age of 5.[23][24][25]By the age of 8, he began to devote himself to competition and entered his first international tournament in Germany.[13][26]
Page won 10 world championships in kickboxing – his first was at the US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships 1998[27] in Orlando, Florida[13] when he was 12 years old[28] – and was crowned British champion over 25 times.[4] By the age of 13, Page started entering adult competitions.[13][19][29] To prepare, he would train five hours a day for five days a week.[30] During tournament days he would often fight up to 14 times due to competing in three weight classes, and at one point fought 22 times in a day across five weight classes.[31] Another world title win was at the W.A.K.O. World Championships 2007 (Coimbra) where, at the −89 kg semi-contact division, he won gold after defeating Dave Heffernan.[32][33] He also competed at the W.A.K.O. Austrian Classics Worldcup 2008 (Kufstein), winning gold in the −84 kg semi-contact division over Krisztián Jároszkievicz.[34][35] Page participated at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2008 (Dublin), earning silver in the −84 kg semi-contact division after falling short to Raymond Daniels.[36] Page then won gold at the W.A.K.O. Austrian Classics Worldcup 2009 (Walchsee), placing first in both the −84 kg light-contact and semi-contact divisions, defeating Bojan Miskovic and Zvonimir Gribl respectively.[37][38] Page returned to participate in the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2009 (Dublin) but was defeated by Raymond Daniels, placing second in the −84 kg semi-contact division.[39] Page – appointed as the WKA Head Coach[40] – led a team to the WKA World Championships 2009 (Huelva), defeating James Benjamin Stewart to claim gold in the organisation’s first semi-contact prize competition[41] and bronze in the −90 kg light-contact division, upon being bested by Tarek Haydar.[2][3] He then participated in the W.A.K.O. World Championships 2009 (Lignano Sabbiadoro) and finished second in the −84 kg semi-contact division, after being defeated by Krisztián Jároszkievicz.[42] On 4 September 2010, he competed at the World Combat Games 2010 (Beijing) in the −84 kg semi-contact division, where he earned silver, losing gold to Krisztián Jároszkievicz.[43][44] Page fought Raymond Daniels at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2011 (Dublin), securing silver in the −84 kg semi-contact division.[8]
Page was scouted by the Great Britain Taekwondo team to train and qualify for the Olympics but turned it down to pursue a professional combat sports career.[45]
When not competing Page trains others in kickboxing, primarily as an instructor at the Hands Down Martial Arts Academies throughout Surrey.[46]
Mixed martial arts career
Background
Dissatisfied with the lack of exposure[47] as well as the politics[48] involved in competing among various kickboxing associations, Page decided to cross over into mixed martial arts.[49][50] He initially considered going to American Top Team[51] during his transition into MMA since his older siblings live in Miami[18] but chose to start his career with London Shootfighters[52] in July 2011,[53] training with the likes of John Hathaway, Cláudio da Silva, Karlos Vemola,[54] Alex Reid,[55] Marcin Held,[56] Jim Wallhead,[57] and Marc Diakiese.[58] Page also sparred with Alexander Gustafsson,[59]James DeGale,[60] Che Mills,[61] Chris Eubank, Jr.,[60] Frank Muñoz,[62] Dereck Chisora, Muhammed Lawal,[63] Andrew Tate,[64] Darren Stewart,[65] Karl Amoussou,[66] Johnny Walker,[67] Filip Verlinden,[68] and Harut Grigorian.[69] He entertained the possibility of fighting at lightweight.[70] Page spends up to seven hours training in the gym, and does not undergo IV therapy after cutting weight.[71][72] He cross-trains Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Gracie Barra.[73] Page is represented by Paradigm Sports Management.[74][75]
UCMMA
Page made his MMA debut at UCMMA 26 against Ben Dishman on 4 February 2012 and won via technical knockout from a first round tornado kick.[76] His original opponent Sam Boo withdrew a week before the fight.[77][78] The fight went viraland comparisons were drawn between Page and Anderson Silva.[79][80][81] He was paid £200 for the bout.[82]
On 7 April 2012, Page faced Miguel Bernard at UCMMA 27 in a 176 lb catchweight bout despite weighing in at 165 lb.[83]Page won in the first round after forcing Bernard to tap out upon transitioning from a triangle choke into an armbar.[84]
Page briefly returned to kickboxing when he fought in a UK-1 bout on 18 August 2012 at UCMMA 29. Page was supposed to challenge UCMMA UK-1 welterweight champion Peter Irving for the belt.[85][86] However, Irving pulled out of the fight due to a neck injury[12] and was replaced by Jefferson George after another three opponents dropped out within a month for undisclosed reasons.[87][88] Page won after knocking out George from a two punch combination in the second round.[89]
Super Fight League
On 24 June 2012, Super Fight League announced that they signed Michael Page[90] to an exclusive year and a half, four-fight contract.[91]
Page made his promotional debut on 2 November 2012 at SFL 7 as the main event against Haitham El-Sayed, winning by technical knockout in round one via doctor stoppage due to cuts.[92]
Page returned to Super Fight League on 12 April 2013 to face Ramdan Mohamed at SFL 15 as the main event and won via rear-naked choke in the first round.[93]
Bellator MMA
After winning his UK-1 fight against Jefferson George, Page announced post-fight that he signed a five-fight contract with Bellator MMA, and that he will fight for both Bellator and Super Fight League under their respective contracts.[94][95]
Page was expected to make his promotional debut at Bellator 82 but pulled out of the bout citing surgery for an old jaw injury.[96][97][98] Another potential yet unannounced debut at Bellator 90 against Sean Powers was cancelled for undisclosed reasons.[99]
Page made his debut on 21 March 2013 at Bellator 93.[100] He faced Ryan Sanders and won via knockout at 10 seconds into the first round.[101]
Page was scheduled to fight Kenny Ento at Bellator 102[102] but withdrew due to a rib cartilage injury,[103][104] an ankle injury,[105] and a knee injury.[106] A later appearance slated for Bellator 109 against Andrew Osborne was also cancelled because of lingering injuries.[107]
Page was slated to fight Fight Master: Bellator MMA contestant Marcus Aurelio at Bellator 120 on 17 May 2014 but Aurelio withdrew due to injury.[54][108] Ricky Raineywas immediately sought as a replacement after his Bellator 116 victory[109] and was informed of his opponent a week later.[110] Page won via technical knockout in the first round.[111]
Page next faced Nah-Shon Burrell at Bellator 128 as the co-main event on 10 October 2014.[112] He won via unanimous decision.[113]
On 19 December 2014, Michael Page confirmed that he was no longer contracted with Super Fight League and instead signed an exclusive two year, five-fight contract extension with Bellator.[14][114]
Page was expected to face Curtis Millender at Bellator 134.[115] However, Page pulled out of the fight due to a cut over his left eye which was sustained during a guard passing drill[116] and required six stitches.[117] He was replaced by Brennan Ward.[118]
Page faced Rudy Bears at Bellator 140 on 17 July 2015.[119] He won by knockout in the first round.[120]
Page fought Charlie Ontiveros at Bellator 144 on 23 October 2015 with less than three weeks’ notice after four opponents – including his initial opponent Marius Žaromskis[121] and later Cristiano Souza[122] – pulled out of the fight for undisclosed reasons.[123] Page won via verbal submission due to elbows in the first round after dislocating Ontiveros’ jaw.[124][125][126]
He was expected to fight Fernando Gonzalez at Bellator 151 as the co-main event[127] but withdrew from the bout as he was already committed to officiate at the W.A.K.O. Irish Open 2016 (Dublin)[128] as coach of the Top Ten UK team.[129] He was replaced by Gilbert Smith.[130]
Page defeated Jeremie Holloway at Bellator 153 on 22 April 2016, submitting him with an Estima lock in round one.[131][132][133]
Page’s fight with Fernando Gonzalez was rescheduled[134] for Bellator 158 on 16 July 2016 but visa issues forced Gonzalez to withdraw.[135] Page accepted a contract to fight Paul Daley after Josh Koscheck withdrew but Daley chose to fight Douglas Lima instead.[136] Page fought Evangelista Santos[137] and won by knocking out Santos with a flying knee in the second round.[138] Santos underwent surgery afterwards due to a depressed frontal sinus fracture.[139] The fight went viral partly due to the Pokémon Go-inspired post-fight celebration.[140][141]
In July 2016, Bellator claimed that Page re-signed[142] with the promotion and had four fights left on his contract.[143] However, Page stated that he did not re-sign but had two fights left from existing contractual provisions.[144]
Page fought Fernando Gonzalez on 19 November 2016 at Bellator 165 as the co-main event.[145] He won the fight via split decision.[146]
A proposed bout between Page and Paul Daley was targeted for Bellator 179 but negotiations fell through after Daley chose to fight Rory MacDonald instead.[147] Page was supposed to fight Derek Anderson[148] but an old knee injury[149][150] and neck injury forced him off the card.[151] Daley attempted to brawl with Page after losing his fight.[152] Another fight with Daley was proposed for September 2017 in London but was turned down by Daley, who instead opted to fight Lorenz Larkin at Bellator 183.[153][154]
He has two fights left on his contract.[155]
Page was expected to compete at Bellator 191 but a fight was never announced.[156]
Bellator attempted to match Page against Daley on 9 March 2018 but negotiations stalled when Daley refused to commit to the date.[157]
Page fought David Rickels on 25 May 2018 at Bellator 200 as the co-main event.[158] He won the fight via verbal submission due to a punch in the second round that opened a cut above Rickels’ left eye.[159][160] He spent a portion of his training camp at Straight Blast Gym – Ireland in preparation for the fight.[161] He paid tribute to his cousin Helena Ramsay, a victim of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, during the open workout and post-fight interview.[162][163]
On 30 July 2018, Page confirmed signing a new six-fight contract with Bellator, three for the tournament and three as part of the champion clause.[164] The contract will let him box, subject to Bellator’s approval.[165]
Page faced Paul Daley in the quarter-final of the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix Tournament on 16 February 2019 at Bellator 216.[166][167] He won by unanimous decision, in an uneventful fight in which neither fighter was able to mount any significant offense.[168][169] His father died prior to the fight on 26 December 2018.[170][171]
Page will fight Douglas Lima in the semi-final of the welterweight tournament on 11 May 2019 at Bellator 221.[172]
Article source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Page_(fighter)
