Two big free agents have made their way to the UFC in 2024.
It still feels weird to say Michael "Venom" Page is a part of the UFC roster, even after watching him surgically dismantle Kevin Holland in his promotional debut at UFC 299 earlier this month. The fight was Page's first in almost one full year to the day when he last scored a nasty 26-second TKO over Goiti Yamauchi at Bellator 292.
Page, 36, spent nine years with Bellator before finally jumping ship for the worldwide leader in MMA. "MVP" isn't the UFC's only significant acquisition this year, though, as former two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison signed to debut against Holly Holm at UFC 300 next month. No matter the promotion, none compare to what the UFC has to offer, believes UFC CEO Dana White and fans are seeing that with his newest stars.
“When you get to the UFC — you just saw it with ‘MVP,’ you’re gonna see it with Kayla Harrison, and so many others that have come from other organizations, and they get here,” White told Lex Fridman. “They notice immediately the difference between fighting here and fighting wherever they were before. It’s not even comparable to the impact it has on you when you leave whatever organization you’re with, and you come to the UFC.”
Despite his strong performance against Holland, Page noted post-fight how he didn't feel at his best in the unanimous decision win. Outside of that, he got to put on a show to a decent effect, as fans have grown accustomed to, when he delivered an entertaining WWE-inspired entrance.
Harrison got a taste of a UFC press atmosphere with a fan Q&A ahead of UFC 299. However, it was nothing like the pre-fight press conference that Page participated in, says White.
“I think that it gives them a sense of, ‘Holy s***. I can really—’ I mean, ‘MVP,’ when he came, there were probably more people at the press conference than any fight he’d ever fought in at Bellator, you know what I mean?" White said. "You feel that energy, and you feel the difference in the impact of being here, and I think it takes a lot of these guys to another level."
TOP STORIES
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VIDEO STEW
The MMA Hour.
Catching up with Javier Mendez.
UFC Connected: Jared Gordon.
Free fights.
Gaethje’s Road to UFC 300.
LISTEN UP
On To the Next One. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Alex K. Lee discuss the matches to make after UFC Vegas 89.
MORNING MUSIC
Drake’s take:
A post-concert “Crash” from Zuzana:
— Zuzana (@zuzanafights) March 25, 2024
Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or find one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re currently really into. I’ll pick the best one alongside my daily choice and give you a shoutout! You can also share in the comments below — those are just harder to sift through sometimes!
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Health scare.
The champ speaks.
Dustin if you could beat anybody, you'd be holding this belt right now, not me ♂️
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) March 25, 2024
His level is: permanent contender :) how many title losses, 2? 3? https://t.co/zHnTRW3HvG
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) March 25, 2024
Woosh.
Is this a checkable kick?
— FMD ☣️ (@FullMetalDojo) March 25, 2024
Or no, you gonna d*e if you try? #Blobtang @FightCircus pic.twitter.com/QRH9aQ7wlK
Throwback.
#OnThisDay in 2001: Wanderlei Silva faced Kazushi Sakuraba and it ended with SOCCER KICKS!!
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 25, 2024
Watch in full on @UFCFightPass now! pic.twitter.com/vKW54GRd64
No thanks.
Cool in Principle but not Medically advised! #MMATwitter #drkrankypants pic.twitter.com/QRJuJEJATN
— David Abbasi, MD | Orthopedic Surgeon (@DrDavidAbbasi) March 24, 2024
Dancin’ Joe.
Joe Martinez, UFC ring announcer extraordinaire, busts a move in between fights #UFCVegas89 pic.twitter.com/7wDWD2LcHV
— MMAWeekly (@MMAWeeklycom) March 24, 2024
Strike a pose.
戦闘体制
— Kana Watanabe×渡辺華奈 (@kanawatanabe821) March 25, 2024
いつもかっこいい髪にしていただいて
ありがとうございます pic.twitter.com/cNGnyiiUBz
Post-fight faces.
格闘家から人間に戻った #RIZINの漢たち
— Sachiko HOTAKA 3.23 RIZIN landmar9神戸 保高幸子 (@greco_free) March 25, 2024
#RIZIN_LANDMARK9 https://t.co/cHTkaAWWUK pic.twitter.com/TY2NPlGobk
As one does.
Kevin Holland’s biggest fan got his name tattooed on her forehead pic.twitter.com/khgYQljaVo
— Ben Davis (@BenTheBaneDavis) March 25, 2024
Trilogy.
Old Rivals Meet Again
— PFL (@PFLMMA) March 25, 2024
The next chapter in @iamgirlrilla and @JuVelasquezMMA
rivalry happens inside the PFL SmartCage
[ #PFLRegularSeason |Thursday , April 4th| 10PM ET | ️ https://t.co/dkByVDhUe4] pic.twitter.com/JJF09zu88y
Wild.
| A Russian 4,000 kg ballistic missile just hit 5 minutes from Craig Jones hotel in Ukraine.
— MMA Frenzy (@mma_frenzy) March 25, 2024
Craig Jones came to Kyiv to hold BJJ seminars. #MMA #UFC pic.twitter.com/uealgU18zj
Cauliflower.
Adjustment.
Hello @DonnDavisPFL @PeteMurrayPFL , let’s make an adjustment to the @BellatorMMA schedule. September 7th is Brazil’s independence day. We have @combate, we have @tvglobo. Let’s build a big Brazil show then! pic.twitter.com/L194t5QfbM
— Patricio Pitbull (@PatricioPitbull) March 26, 2024
Action shots.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Edson Barboza (24-11) vs. Lerone Murphy (13-0-1); UFC Vegas 92, May 18
Alexander Volkov (37-10) vs. Jailton Almeida (20-3); UFC 302, June 1
Anthony Hernandez (12-2, 1 NC) vs. Roman Dolidze (12-3); UFC 302, June 1
Carli Judice (3-1) vs. Gabriella Fernandes (8-3); UFC Vegas 93, June 15
Luana Santos (7-1) vs. Mariya Agapova (10-4); UFC Fight Night, July 13
FINAL THOUGHTS
Page and Harrison have been pretty open about this so far. It’s not much of a secret, at least regarding UFC’s crowd shows — a bit of a different story for the Apex events.
Either way, honestly, I want to answer the poll question and feel it’s pretty easy. Harrison just has a significantly easier group to have success against than MVP. I still think he’ll do relatively well for as long as he’s around.
Thanks for reading!
EXIT POLL
Poll
Who will have a more successful UFC career?
This poll is closed
-
57%
Michael "Venom" Page
-
42%
Kayla Harrison
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