After his unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier, many expected Page to face a top-ranked opponent in his next outing. Page had already fought Ian Machado Garry in the welterweight division, so it was logical to assume he would get a bigger fight. Instead, he draws unranked Sam Patterson.
Page told MMAJunkie that he thinks the matchmaking could be a form of punishment. Cormier uploaded a new video to his YouTube channel where he empathized in “Venom” (via MMA Junkie).
“No disrespect to Sam Patterson, he looked really good,” Cormier said. “He’s been really tough and he’s a guy with potential, right? But honestly, he’s not the guy you would expect Michael ‘Venom’ Page to fight, right?”
“So Page seemed disappointed that he had to fight a guy he knows, but I think, and I really can’t speak for the guy, that the disappointment comes from fighting Ian Garry, Shara ‘Bullet,’ Kevin Holland, Jared Cannonier and Sam Patterson,” Cormier said. “That’s where the disappointment comes if it was me, because I would have thought that after fighting a guy who had just fought for the world championship, I would be fighting someone else.”
The UFC Hall of Famer added that he knows Page expected an opponent to be in front of him, rather than what he would get on March 21.
“You look at the people MVP has fought and you expect a step forward, especially with where he’s been and where he expects to go next,” Cormier said.
If Page can get past Patterson, it will be interesting to see what UFC matchmakers might have planned for him.
Who would you have booked Michael Page against on the UFC London card? Tell us in the comment section below.
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