Fan response was blended when UFC introduced that Michael Web page could be becoming a member of the Welterweight roster.
Clearly, nobody was outright complaining a few new knockout artist within the ranks, however there was loads of pessimism. Comprehensible pessimism, if we’re being sincere. “MVP” was teased as the subsequent huge factor by Bellator for many of ten years, however the promotion refused to truly e-book him towards prime competitors for many of that span. When he lastly did battle high-level Bellator contenders (Douglas Lima twice, Logan Storley), the outcomes have been uninspiring: a knockout loss, a split-decision win, and a split-decision loss.
By the point Web page walked into the Octagon for the primary time, he was already 36 years previous. It’s exhausting to be overly moved about fighters with, at most, a pair years left competing on the highest degree.
The identify Kevin Holland helped inject some pleasure again into the scenario. “Trailblazer” is rarely in a boring battle, and we already considerably knew what to anticipate given the Holland vs. Stephen Thompson slugfest in 2022. No one was upset a few continuation of that battle, even when comparatively few have been hyped about Web page significantly.
All that’s modified now.
“Venom” completely styled on Holland. From the primary bell, the distinction within the two was stark. On paper, each males are lanky, quick, and highly effective Welterweight strikers. Bodily, there are various similarities. Of their kickboxing course of, nonetheless, Web page was the vastly superior man. From the primary bell, his entries and sudden capability to spring ahead with energy pictures flummoxed Holland, who was left leaping after his opponent and nonetheless developing brief.
It seemed like a foul copy.
Holland does some funky Karate-esque stuff like his leaping aspect kick, however actually, he’s only a robust and athletic MMA man with an extended 1-2. Web page, conversely, is the actual deal of their shared fashion, a lifelong martial artist who has actually mastered his technique of fight. Because the battle wore on, Web page’s setups — his leaping proper elbow, pivots in the direction of Holland’s again, delicate proper foot journey after the lead proper hand — all continued to work with nice consistency, whereas Holland solely grew extra annoyed at his incapability to hit “MVP.”
Course of wins fights, and Web page is aware of precisely how one can get opponents dancing to his tune. It was outstanding to look at him take aside such a sturdy and skilled UFC veteran with relative ease, proving past any doubt that Web page has SOMETHING to supply the top-tier of the Welterweight division.
I’m not predicting any title run. Web page might be too previous, and extra vitally, his defensive floor work merely isn’t on the required degree to deal with somebody like Shavkat Rakhmonov and even Belal Muhammad. He’s not helpless in that realm — he stalled out Storley fairly properly and prevented a Holland rally within the second — however he’s not going to develop into champion in such a traditionally wrestler-dominated division.
Lock him within the cage vs. Stephen Thompson, nonetheless? There’s a major occasion! Hell, with Alex Pereira-style matchmaking, Web page may doubtlessly climb excessive up into the ranks by preventing strikers like Jack Della Maddalena or Ian Machada Garry. He’d have an actual shot towards these Prime 10-ranked Welterweights, an idea few have been giving critical thought to previous to final week.
The UFC Welterweight division is solely higher with Web page within the combine.
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