Michael Page claimed he knew he had beaten Kevin Holland from the first punch in their UFC 299 fight, noticing Holland’s nervousness and lack of confidence, and went on to win a unanimous decision.
Michael Page was confident of his victory over Kevin Holland from the get-go. The first punch, he says, sealed the deal.
His UFC debut was last Saturday. And boy, did he make a splash. He won a unanimous decision over Holland in the main card fight at UFC 299.
But here’s the kicker. According to “MVP”, the fight was over long before the official scorecards were read out by Bruce Buffer.
Page wasn’t too bothered about what people were saying. He was more interested in Holland’s behavior. He noticed something peculiar during their interaction on The MMA Hour. Holland seemed nervous, lacking confidence.
Page recalls a particular moment. He was on stage, soaking in the energy of the room. He hopped onto the scale, looked around, and threw his hat to a waving fan.
And then, something odd happened. Holland mimicked his actions, throwing his shoes to the same fan. This, Page believes, was a clear sign of Holland’s nervousness.
Page was just being himself, while Holland seemed more focused on copying him. This, to Page, screamed nerves.
When Page is comfortable in the cage, he clowns around. After the first shot, he looked into Holland’s eyes and knew the fight was his. He was too fast, too good.
Holland, known as “Trailblazer”, is no stranger to clowning around in the cage. He’s known for his chatter during fights. But on Saturday, he was unusually quiet, trying to figure out Page’s speed and style.
Page could tell Holland was getting frustrated. Holland thrives in war-like situations, but Page wasn’t about to give him that. He’s a surgeon in the cage, not a warrior.
Page is now No. 13 in the UFC welterweight rankings. He’s got a solid fan base and is looking forward to his next fight. He’s not expecting a title shot just yet, but he’s not far off.
He’s ready for a showdown with welterweight champion Leon Edwards. But he knows it’s not his call. He’s eager, but he’s also patient. He’s ready to build the hype for a few more fights, fill out a stadium, and then make it happen.