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Michael 'Venom' Page Conditions UFC Return on Guaranteed Path to Title

The demand raises his leverage before his Sept. 5 Paris fight and pressures the promotion to spell out concrete matchmaking and title plans.

Overview

  • As of Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, Page said he plans to sign a new UFC contract but will only commit if the promotion provides a clear, guaranteed route to a title.
  • Page’s Sept. 5 fight with Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris is the final bout on his current deal, making the outcome and follow-up talks decisive for his next move.
  • He enters that contract finale riding a multi-fight winning streak since joining the UFC and sees that form as justification for higher-profile opponents.
  • Page has publicly criticised recent matchmaking, pointing to low-profile assignments after his win over Shara Magomedov and the Sam Patterson booking as examples.
  • Broad market shifts, including interest from outside promoters and the Jake Paul/PFL alignment, increase leverage for fighters but Page has said he prefers to stay in the UFC if given a mapped path to a title and a clearer long-term weight-class plan.