Michael Page commits to middleweight, cites welterweight congestion

Michael Page has declared middleweight his long-term home, telling MMA Junkie that the welterweight division has grown too congested with fighters sitting on the sidelines rather than staying active. The Englishman added that an earlier miscommunication with the UFC over his weight class has now been sorted out. Page is scheduled to face Nursultan Ruziboev in a middleweight bout on the main card of UFC Fight Night 287 at Accor Arena in Paris.

Page, nicknamed "Venom," carries a 25-3 record and is ranked in the middleweight division at 39 years old. The London Shootfighters product stands six-foot-three with a 79-inch reach and fights out of a switch stance. He is a precision striker, landing 2.28 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — one of the sharper output-to-accuracy ratios in the sport.

Ruziboev, known as "Black," brings a 37-9-2 record into the bout. The 32-year-old from Uzbekistan trains with UZB Patriot and represents a significant size challenge, standing six-foot-five with a 76-inch reach. He lands 2.59 significant strikes per minute at 46 percent accuracy and averages 0.75 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him tools to work both on the feet and on the canvas.

Why it matters

• Page's commitment to middleweight ends the uncertainty around his divisional future and gives the 185-pound roster more clarity on where he fits.
• A strong performance could push Page toward the top 10, with his current ranking leaving room to climb.
• The style matchup is compelling: Page's switch-stance precision striking against a longer, busier fighter who can also threaten with takedowns.