What’s Next For “MVP” After UFC Saudi Arabia?

Published by Paul Browne on February 2, 2025

Where Does “MVP” Go From Here?

Michael “Venom” Page (23-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) picked up the second win of his UFC career this past weekend when he became the first man to defeat Shara Magomedov inside the Octagon.

Weltwerweight contender “MVP” made a pit-stop at 185 lbs for Saturday’s co-main event and despite being the one who was moving up in weight, the 37-year-old Brit carried a 5-inch reach advantage over “Bullet”.

Page fought under the Bellator banner from 2014 to 2024 before signing with the UFC, and he built up an impressive resume of highlight reel knockouts during that spell.

After being paired with Kevin Holland, Ian Machado Garry and now Magomedov, it’s clear the UFC are on board with the idea of placing Page in as many fun fights as possible.

Having now beaten ranked opponents at both 170 and 185 lbs, there are plenty of options for exciting, high-profile matchups for “MVP” going forward.

Option 1: Carlos Prates (Welterweight)

Carlos Prates (21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC) has enjoyed a dream start to life in the UFC. Having broken into the UFC off the back of an impressive knockout win over Mitch Ramirez on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023, “The Nightmare” knocked out all four of his opponents inside the Octagon through 2024.

Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, Jingliang Li and Neil Magny all tried to stand with the 31-year-old with Prates, and all four found themselves laying on the canvas staring up at the lights.

Prates, a product of the Fighting Nerds gym in Sao Paulo, currently sits 13th in the welterweight rankings, two spots above “MVP”.

Option 2: Michel Pereira (Middleweight)

Michel Pereira (31-12 MMA, 9-3 UFC) has just been booked to face Abus Magomedov at UFC Kansas City in April, but should “MVP” require some downtime after his win this past weekend, the stars could still align for a fight between the pair.

Rio de Janeiro’s Pereira had been riding an 8-fight winning streak prior to losing to Anthiny “Fluffy” Hernandez in October. The Brazilian brings a unique, flamboyant style to the Octagon (much like Page) and is currently occupying 15th place in the UFC’s middleweight rankings.

Option 3: Stephen Thompson (Welterweight)

Should the UFC wish to match Page with a fellow veteran striker, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (17-8-1 MMA, 12-8-1 UFC) seems like a no-brainer.

Former title-contender Thompson, was a decorated kickboxer before joining the UFC back in 2012. An impressive 7-fight winning streak saw him earn a title shot against then champion Tyron Woodley, and although he failed to get his hands on the belt, he has provided a tough test for many ranked fighters at 170 lbs over the past few years.

At 41 years old, there aren’t many big fights left for “Wonderboy”. A showcase bout against “MVP” could be the perfect way to bookend his fantastic career.

Option 4: Paulo Costa (Middleweight)

If Page decides to stick around at 185 lbs, Paulo Costa (14-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) could be a viable option to help push him up the rankings.

Costa, who challenged Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title back in 2020, is currently sitting 11th in the division. Although the Brazilian likes to talk a big game, he has rarely backed it up at the highest level, and is currently on a 2-fight skid having lost to both Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland in 2024.