Michael Page thinks Leon Edwards will keep his place as UFC welterweight champion for the foreseeable future, and it’s his goal to eventually secure a title bout with his fellow Brit.
The all-time Bellator knockout record-holder Page (21-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is set to make his octagon debut on March 9 when he meets Kevin Holland at UFC 299, which takes place at Kaseya Center in Miami with a main card on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+. It’s a chance for “Venom” to make a big splash in his new promotion, and the talent-stacked 170-pound division currently led by Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC).
Although Page is aware he has work to do, starting with Holland, he can’t ignore the potentially historic opportunity to set up a UFC title clash with Edwards, which would be the first of its kind featuring two U.K.-based athletes.
“I want give a big knockout, a big knockout and then let’s go for the belt,” Page told MMA Junkie. “Hopefully Leon’s still got the belt. I definitely believe he can still have the belt. We can sell out a stadium. We can make so much noise and sell out a stadium in the U.K. and bring an untold story to the UFC.”
Page, 36, is confident he’s not overselling the magnitude or significance of a fight with Edwards in his part of the world, and it’s achievable in his mind. His journey to the UFC has many similarities to that of former three-time Bellator champion Michael Chandler, who fought for the UFC lightweight title in his second promotional appearance, and has only participated in big fights under the UFC banner.
“It’s a massive fight,” Page said. “It’s an absolutely massive fight. It makes a stadium to where the U.K. artists are at this stage of MMA. The U.K. guys are doing so well. All you have to do is look at Tom Aspinall doing his thing as well at heavyweight. The fact we could get two U.K. guys to headline a main event in the U.K. is unbelievable. For a belt? Like I said, it’s unheard of. Let’s make it happen.”
Page said he expects Edwards to get through his next crop of contenders, which seems likely to be Belal Muhammad at UFC 300 on April 13, then potentially Shavkat Rakhmonov after that. It’s a difficult stretch of challenges, but Page has faith Edwards will hold up his end of the bargain in retaining the strap while he makes his climb to the top of the ranks.
“I think we’re past underestimating Leon Edwards, and I think we’ve been doing that for a long time,” Page said. “Yes it’s tricky (to get through Muhammad and Rakhmonov), but I feel like he’s got one of the hardest runs to the title. His story is amazing. You can see his heart, you can see his grit. He pulled out that spectacular win against Usman, then went and did it again. The display he put on (against Colby Covington), I felt like he could’ve done more, but yet it was still a dominant display.
“I think a lot of people should be over underestimating Leon Edwards. He’s truly the best welterweight in the world. And rightly so. I can still see him being the champion (when I get there) regardless of names that could be potentially fighting him before I get there. I reckon he’ll definitely be holding that belt for a belt for a little while.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.