Michael Page's UFC Exit: Israel Adesanya Weighs In

Michael “Venom” Page walked out of UFC Paris with another win on his record and no contract in his pocket. Days later, the decision not to keep him has rippled through the sport – and one of the loudest voices belongs to Israel Adesanya.

To Adesanya, the UFC got this one wrong.

A Winning Record, A Sudden Exit

Page’s short UFC run was efficient, if not electric. Five wins from six in the octagon. The only blemish: a loss to rising star and title contender Ian Machado Garry.

That résumé would usually buy a fighter more time. Instead, speculation about his future swirled even before he stepped into the cage in Paris for the final bout of his deal. He beat another tough opponent, did the job, and still walked straight into free agency.

The problem, in the eyes of the matchmakers, wasn’t the results. It was the lack of spark. The UFC had gambled on importing the Bellator showman and felt they weren’t getting the same fireworks.

So they walked away.

Adesanya: “They Got It Wrong”

Israel Adesanya didn’t hide his frustration when Page’s release became public, immediately drawing a sharp comparison with heavyweight fan-favorite Tai Tuivasa, who remains on the roster despite an eight-fight losing streak.

“It’s unfortunate. They cut Michael ‘Venom’ Page, and they don’t cut [Tai Tuivasa]… The UFC is a different business. They, the brass themselves, go on a case-by-case basis,” Adesanya said, lifting the curtain a little on how decisions are made at the top.

“They’re human beings, man. I’ve had my dealings with my managers in the UFC, and I’ve heard stories of how they get deals done, you know? I’m sure there’s a lot of bodies buried in the desert.

“But with Michael ‘Venom’ Page, I feel like they got it wrong on that one because he only lost to Ian Garry, who just went toe-to-toe with the pound-for-pound number one, Islam.”

For Adesanya, context matters. Losing to Garry – who just pushed Islam Makhachev in a high-profile clash – isn’t the sort of defeat that should end a fighter’s run, especially when everything else in the column reads “W”.

“A Hard Man to Kill”

Adesanya also zeroed in on what it’s like to share a cage with someone like Page, a striker who forces opponents into hesitation and doubt.

“Michael is just a hard man to kill. And everyone that fights him – I know this because I’ve done this to people – I’m not the same style as Michael. But I’ve been in fights where I just know this guy just doesn’t want to attack me. This guy is just waiting. He’s waiting for me to come to him.

“But I’m touching the guy. I’m peppering the guy, and I’m like, ‘Bro, I’m hitting you. You’ve got to come to me.’ But they just want a freebie, and this is not a freebie.”

That description could double as a critique of how Page’s UFC stint has been judged. When opponents refuse to engage, highlight-reel chaos is hard to manufacture on demand. The spectacle the promotion wanted from him often needed a willing dance partner.

Investment, Expectation, and Patience

Page arrived from Bellator with a reputation and a price tag. The UFC knew they were signing a name, not a prospect. That, Adesanya suggested, may have raised the bar unrealistically high.

“You have to let people cook, give them time,” he said. “Like, Michael, yeah, I understand he was a big investment from Bellator. He’s getting paid well. And he’s delivering, I think, ’cause he’s winning.

“But maybe they weren’t seeing what they were seeing in Bellator, and they were hoping for that kind of excitement… I find it exciting.”

The numbers back Adesanya’s point: Page came in, beat most of the men in front of him, and left with a single loss to a top contender. The UFC, though, clearly wanted more than clean scorecards and awkward nights for opponents. They wanted chaos, clips, and viral moments.

They didn’t get enough of them. So they moved on.

Page now hits free agency as one of the most intriguing names on the market: a proven winner, a polarizing stylist, and a fighter that a former middleweight champion believes the UFC gave up on too soon.

The question now isn’t why the UFC let him go. It’s who will rush to pick him up first.