Michael ‘Venom’ Page set to return to middleweight at UFC Paris

UFC fan favorite Michael ‘Venom’ Page will return to the middleweight division to fight Joaquin Buckley’s former rival at UFC Paris.

After complaining about a lack of activity inside the UFC Octagon, star striker Michael ‘Venom’ Page extended his ongoing win streak by defeating welterweight Sam Patterson at UFC London in March. Page has won three fights in a row since a unanimous decision loss to Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303.

After starting his UFC tenure at welterweight, Page has transitioned between middleweight and welterweight, adding to his versatility and flexibility to get booked fights. But that hasn’t stopped Page from getting upset with the matchmakers’ perceived lack of urgency in delivering quick turnarounds.

As UFC Paris draws closer, Page will return to the middleweight division to fight one of the division’s bright young stars.

Michael ‘Venom’ Page’s middleweight return added to growing UFC Paris card

As announced by the UFC on Wednesday, Page will fight Nursulton Ruziboev (37-9-2) at UFC Paris on September 5th. As of this writing, the card has yet to have an official main event booked and announced.

Ruziboev returns to the Octagon after defeating Andrey Pulyaev just weeks ago at UFC Baku. He’s won three fights in a row since a unanimous decision defeat to Joaquin Buckley in May 2024.

Like Page, Ruziboev has switched between welterweight and middleweight in his recent fights. Standing at 6’5″, he’s considered wildly oversized for the welterweight division.

The UFC’s return to Paris comes as top middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov awaits a title shot against current champion Sean Strickland, meaning Imavov is unlikely to headline UFC Paris. Lightweight Benoit Saint-Denis could be a potential fit, but he just lost to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 329 earlier this month.

Interim heavyweight titleholder Ciryl Gane called out Tom Aspinall for a fight in Paris, but the heavyweight title unification isn’t likely to take place on a UFC Fight Night card. The last title fight that headlined a UFC Fight Night card was when then-UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso fought Valentina Shevchenko at Noche UFC 1.

What is your prediction for Michael ‘Venom’ Page vs. Nursulton Ruziboev? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!