Michael “Venom” Page believes a fighters’ union might be needed to help improve treatment for competitors in MMA.
MVP signed to the UFC roster in 2024, joining after a lengthy Bellator run which saw him put together an impressive compilation of knockout wins.
While his UFC career saw him attain four wins through five appearances, the highlight-reel finishes he was known for never emerged in the new home. After going the distance in all of his UFC appearances, the company chose not to renew Page’s deal with the company last month.
Page has since inked a deal with Misfits Boxing, a brand which mixes together matchups between internet stars and professional fighters. Page claims he is earning significantly more through his boxing deal than what he made while with the UFC.
Now out of the UFC, Page told BBC Sport he wants to encourage fighters to form an alliance in MMA for better benefits.
“It’s less about speaking out now, it’s more about forming a union and coming together,” he told BBC. “We have to move as one … If all fighters said ‘we’re not gonna do it’, then UFC doesn’t exist. That’s the important thing for fighters to remember. It’s not just the machine of UFC, you guys are the nuts and bolts that help the machine move.”
Page said that frustration around fighter pay is an issue you often don’t hear from the competitors themselves, as they fear backlash from promoters.
UFC, which is currently in the first year of a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal to stream on Paramount+ in America, has long been accused of underpaying athletes. The company agreed to a settlement worth $375 million in 2024 for a class action lawsuit alleging that the company had engaged in antitrust behavior to keep the pay of its fighters low.
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland recently expressed frustration over the company’s pay structure, teasing that he might even want to leave the brand soon.
“[Conor] McGregor makes 30 million to fight for 30 second and they don’t want to pay us a fraction of it,” he wrote on X. “Contemplating just going to 205 [pounds] knocking out my contract then scrapping with Jake Paul. That sounds fun.”
UFC CEO Dana White downplayed Strickland’s complaints, denying the claims that Strickland had made about pay. “When isn’t Sean upset about something?” he said at a press conference.
Page briefly touched on how UFC has shifted its focus in recent years, being much more willing to let go of fighters who aren’t consistently getting finish victories: “It’s not about who’s the most skilled anymore, it’s about guys who are willing to put themselves through hell and shave years off their life every single time they fight.”
Similar comments were recently shared by undefeated bantamweight Farid Basharat, who was released by the UFC earlier this year despite having an undefeated run in the company.
