Michael 'Venom' Page says MMA fighters need to form a union and "move as one" if they want better pay in the sport. The 39-year-old recently signed with Misfits Boxing after leaving the UFC, where he won five of his six bouts after debuting in 2024. Page criticized the money UFC fighters earn compared with top athletes in other sports, and says he expects to earn "a lot more" at Misfits.
Page points to the Muhammad Ali Act, a 2000 US law designed to protect boxers' rights and combat potential monopolies, as a model he would like to see replicated in MMA. "It's less about speaking out now, it's more about forming a union and coming together," he said. "If all fighters said 'we're not gonna do it', then UFC doesn't exist."
Fighter pay has been under scrutiny this year after boxer Conor Benn signed a reported £11m one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing, which is owned by UFC president Dana White. White has defended UFC fighter pay, citing the promotion's £5.7bn broadcast deal with Paramount. Page says criticism like that of UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is common, but most fighters stay silent for fear of repercussions. "I feel if I don't say anything, silence is going along with it," he said.
Page says he is excited to compete for Misfits and wants to build a healthier financial space for younger fighters. Despite his criticisms, he says he "for the most part loved" his time in the UFC, praising its staff and Performance Institute. He plans to make his Misfits debut in the first part of next year.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing