“I don’t fight for a country” – Michael 'Venom' Page reveals why he won’t walk out with a flag at UFC London
Michael 'Venom' Page has explained why a flag will not be shown next to his name when he walks out to fight at UFC London.
The UFC makes its return to London's O2 Arena on Saturday night for a massive card featuring 14 exciting bouts.
Featherweight contender Lerone Murphy is set to headline the card in a bout with Russia's Movsar Evloev, with the winner expected to challenge champion Alexander Volkanovski later this year.
Across the entire card, 12 British fighters are set to feature, showing off some of the very best that the United Kingdom has to offer.
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Among them is the ever-popular Page, who faces Sam Patterson in a return to the welterweight division following his successful stint at middleweight.
However, the London-born fighter will not be among the Brits proudly showing off their country's flag during the UFC broadcast, as he told SPORTbible that he has decided not to represent any nation during his career.
"I don’t fight for a country, I wasn’t hired by this country to go and fight," Page exclusively told SPORTbible.
"My talents are a gift to me and I present that gift to the world and anyone who is a fan of MMA."
Since making his UFC debut at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida in March 2024, Page has had a grey graphic with a globe in the corner as his flag instead of Saint George's Cross.
Despite this, there is one flag that Page claimed he would proudly have beside his name, but it's not one of a country.
He added: "If there was an MMA flag out there they could put that flag on, but outside of that I’m a man for the people.
"Each to their own, people are so accustomed to follow suit but I like to think outside the box and how I am representing myself.
"We’re all one, we love to put labels on everything and it’s not necessary, we grow further away from each other and distance ourselves from each other when we start using labels. If we start thinking a bit more open about us being one, we grow closer together."
READ MORE: Lerone Murphy details ‘bucket list’ fight ahead of UFC London
That being said, Page is still eager to please his home crowd in London, having built a reputation as an exciting fighter who is more than capable of producing big moments with his dynamic striking style.
"I always want to produce big moments, I don’t chase them but they come because of my style. I'll go out there and enjoy the moment and the chaos will come," Page said
"In home territory you just know that you're going to walk out to good support, you're going to get a warm welcome and it's good positive energy.
"It’s more calming, I like the chaos, but it's definitely best to walk out into more friendly environment."
Page, who is currently no.13 in the welterweight division, will fight non-ranked Patterson, who is nine years his junior, as part of the main card on Saturday night.
Although he remained adamant that he was not looking past the difficult challenge that his fellow Englishman will bring to the fight, Page admitted that he had hoped for a bigger name in the division as he looks upwards towards the UFC welterweight title.
"For the status and level I am at I should have had a more credible opponent, not in terms of skill, but name and achievements," Page claimed.
"It is shocking, but I am still excited."
But, should Page put in a statement performance on Saturday night, he will no doubt place himself right in the mix for a fight against a fellow top contender in what is arguably the most stacked and exciting division in the sport.
UFC London: Movsar Evloev v Lerone Murphy starts from 18:00 on Saturday, March 21, and will be live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
Ben McCrum