Michael Page is ready to move up to middleweight to fight Shara Magomedov in defense of his friend Israel Adesanya, following Magomedov’s call-out of Adesanya after a knockout win at UFC 308.
Michael Page is ready to jump up to middleweight. Why? To defend his pal Israel Adesanya against a rising star in the division.
Shara “Bullet” Magomedov made waves at UFC 308. He wowed with a bonus-winning double backfist knockout of Armen Petrosyan. Post-fight, he called out Adesanya—who wasn’t thrilled about it. Since that fight’s unlikely, Page is eager to step in and face Magomedov at 185 pounds.
Page admitted, “Actually, I just forgot his first name, which is terrible, Magomedov — he just fought, did the double spinning back [fist] knockout and then he called out my boy Izzy.” He added, “Mate, I’m at that weight right now. You don’t even have to wait too long. That one there, I’ll just take straight away just for the fun of it.”
This Saturday, Page faces former interim UFC welterweight champ Carlos Condit in a grappling match at Polaris 30 in London. It streams on UFC Fight Pass.
The bout with Condit is set at 185 pounds, perfect for Page to transition into training for Magomedov. “That’s what I’m grappling at right now,” Page mentioned. “So, I’m in shape now, ready to go. So that’s a good fight for me, I think.” He wants to protect his friend Izzy and let him focus on reclaiming the belt.
Page joined the UFC earlier this year after a successful Bellator career. His debut saw him win against Kevin Holland. Then came a tough match with Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303 in June, where Garry won by unanimous decision but not without a fight from Page.
As he steps into his second year with the promotion, Page feels more settled. He’s keen on making an impact—possibly across multiple divisions if necessary.
“[It’s been] a prosperous year,” Page said. He relished proving his worth in the UFC and showing he belongs at this level. The last fight didn’t go his way but was close enough to keep him motivated.
Page aims to showcase his martial arts skills in new ways and plans to be aggressive next year. He’s had years with five fights before and wants that again: fight, win, repeat.
“I want to make noise, man,” he emphasized. “If it’s a good fight, exciting fight, we can do it wherever. Let’s go.”