Michael Page makes brutally honest assessment of UFC London dud against Sam Patterson
· Yahoo Sports
Michael Page kept his win streak alive at UFC London. But his performance against Sam Patterson left fans — and himself — uninspired.
Just days after a forgettable outing in London, the flashy striker was brutally honest about his performance in his unanimous decision nod over Patterson — a fight that had the MMA community scratching its collective head, both before and after its conclusion. Speaking on Monday’s edition of "The Ariel Helwani Show," Page admitted the bout never unfolded the way he envisioned, and his inability to adjust mid-fight left him frustrated for the first time in his in-cage career.
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"It wasn't good enough of a performance from my side," Page told Uncrowned. "There were things I was met with in the cage that I didn’t think I would be met with. Patterson was a bit more on his back foot, and I actually really wanted to be aggressive in this fight. I didn’t readjust or rethink how to work it out — how to press, how to close the gap.
"I was actually getting frustrated, and I think this is the first time someone’s gotten me frustrated in the cage. I was looking at myself and thinking, 'I need to do way better.' It wasn’t good enough. Fans have expectations of me, but I've got massive expectations of myself, and I didn’t deliver."
Known for his highlight-reel finishes and unorthodox striking style, Page, 38, has built a career on delivering moments. Against Patterson, however, he found himself stuck in a tactical stalemate — one that tempted him to abandon discipline altogether.
"I wanted to just try to go a bit more crazy, a bit more reckless, which obviously would have put me in danger. But it was my coach that was like, 'No, no, no. Stay to the game plan, and just look for him in a way that we've worked on,'" Page said.
That frustration didn’t begin — nor end — inside the Octagon, either.
Page admitted that lingering feelings about his placement on the UFC London card also played a role in his mindset heading into fight night. Despite the welterweight contender's global profile and track record of showmanship, the London native wasn’t featured in a featured billing spot in front of a home crowd. Instead, the co-main event went to Luke Riley, who defeated fellow prospect Michael Aswell. It was the 26-year-old's second fight in the promotion.
That was just one of several things Page didn’t take lightly, after openly voicing his confusion about the company's recent business practices amid the Paramount deal and Conor Benn's Zuffa Boxing signing.
"I’ve spoken about being frustrated with the [UFC's] decisions. The main one for me was the fact that they put a young kid who's super talented but has only had one fight in the UFC as a co-main event. I felt disrespected," Page said.
"The effort in what I’ve delivered for the fans, in the same arena and others around the world — even if I haven't gotten the finish, I've delivered some really entertaining fights, given people a lot to speak about, and I've made a lot of noise still. To be like, 'Nah, no. He's not co-main. He's not main [event]. And in his own backyard.'
"I think the majority of people were there to see me. Even though I didn't deliver, they were there to come and see what 'MVP' had to show. There was a bit of annoyance with that. I felt like it was relevant."
Those frustrations, combined with broader personal reflections — including his walkout song choice of Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us” — painted a picture of a fighter grappling with more than just an opponent across the cage.
Still, Page remains grounded in the bigger picture. Since he started competing under the UFC banner, he's acknowledged the opportunity in front of him — even as he navigates the uncertainty of having just one fight left on his current UFC deal.
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"I think all fighters are going to have moments in their career where they feel unappreciated, or that things are not necessarily going in the way that they want," Page said. "Ultimately, it is a massive privilege and honor to be fighting on one of the greatest combat shows in the world that's ever to exist. I'm thankful to have been given a shot."
With his contract winding down, Page’s focus is clear: Make the next one count.
"I personally am looking at the belt," Page said. "I know it’s not going to happen in the next fight, so I need to be here longer.
"For the next fight, give me someone who wants to come and kill me. I want someone who’s going to take my head off so we can have a proper fight, and I can showcase my skills. I don’t care where — just give me a big name, and let me put someone to bed in MVP fashion."