Michael Page: Me vs. Stephen Thompson 'could potentially be a boring fight'
Michael Page says a fight with Stephen Thompson wouldn't be as entertaining as people think.
Michael Page says a fight with Stephen Thompson wouldn’t be as entertaining as many people think.
Page (22-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) made good on his promotional debut when he frustrated Kevin Holland with his movement and blitzes en route to a unanimous decision win Saturday at UFC 299.
Many have salivated at the idea of Page and Thompson’s karate stances going up against each other, but “MVP” says their styles may just end up cancelling each other out.
“You know what’s interesting – and I always tell this: A positive and a positive doesn’t always make a positive,” Page told Sportsnet. “Because we are such similar-styled fighters, it could potentially be a boring fight because we’re going to be faking – we’re going to know so much.
“We’re going to be reading so much between each other, that only really elite athletes are going to look at it and be like, ‘Oh OK, I see what just happened’ – but nothing much is happening. So I don’t actually think it’s going to be a great fight, and I love that guy too much to want to kick him. I don’t know. We’re all prizefighters, so whatever happens, happens. But for right now, that’s not really a focus.”
Page isn’t concerned about who’s next. He doesn’t see himself having a hard time getting matched up moving forward.
“(I want) nobody specific,” Page said. “I don’t care to call anybody’s name. I feel like I put a spotlight on myself, there will be people that are drawn to me. I want that challenge, so let’s go from there.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.