Michael ‘Venom’ Page’s UFC GOATs include legendary KO artist – but there’s no room for Jon Jones or Khabib
Michael 'Venom' Page makes his eagerly-anticipated UFC debut on March 9 when he takes on Kevin Holland at UFC 299.
'MVP' is a British mixed martial artist who has become a star in Bellator over the last ten years with his flashy style and spectacular knockouts.
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UFC President Dana White decided to sign the 36-year-old last year after Page became a free agent - and now his Octagon debut is almost here.
36-year-old Page is looking to rise up the welterweight rankings, secure a world title and put his name among the pantheon of legendary UFC champions.
However, he still has a way to go to emulate his UFC GOATs, who he exclusively revealed to marvelbet369.com ahead of his fight with Holland.
When asked who his top three UFC fighters of all time are, Page said, "It's very difficult because there's so many legends.
"But it has to be Chuck Liddell first.
"[Then] Anderson Silva and GSP [Georges St-Pierre]."
Silva and GSP are widely regarded as the best to ever do it.
Brazilian Silva was the long-reigning UFC Middleweight Champion while GSP dominated the welterweight division before coming back after a brief hiatus in 2017 to submit 185lb champ Michael Bisping at UFC 217 to become a two-weight world champion.
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Liddell, meanwhile, is a UFC Hall of Famer and former Light Heavyweight Champion.
'The Iceman' fought a number of icons during his career including Tito Ortiz, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, Randy Couture, Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua and Wanderlei Silva.
The 54-year-old is widely credited with bringing MMA into the mainstream and Page says it was the former 205lb KO king who first drew him to the sport.
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"Chuck Liddell is the first person that actually drew me to the sport just because he was a knockout artist," Page told marvelbet369.com
"I always class myself as a casual fan back then - when it came to the grappling and the wrestling I didn’t really understand it - but seeing Chuck Liddell he just didn’t care for any of that.
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"It was just hit people and let them stay hit and he did that very well and it was just something that I was drawn to.
"He also got me into the likes of Tito Ortiz because of their clash so those guys were the first that really got me into watching any form of MMA."
Page, who has won seven of his past eight fights, including five by knockout, faces No.13 ranked welterweight Holland who is coming off a split-decision loss to Della Maddalena in September.
Like Page, Holland is known as an entertainer and has a penchant for trash-talking which MVP thinks makes for the perfect first opponent in the UFC.
"He's entertaining," Page said when assessing his UFC 299 opponent.
"I think it's a perfect match up in terms of entertainment.
"I think we can probably make a podcast out of all the crap we're going to be talking to each other.
"So it's a great first fight - he's a tough athlete."
Page is also well aware of the danger Holland poses and is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation for the bout.
"I've been working really, really hard," he said. "It's a big fight for the start of a UFC career.
"I'm putting everything into it so I want to leave nothing to chance.
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"I want to go in there and be able to perform at my best - so the work load has been intense."
Holland vs Page takes place at UFC 299 at Kaseya Center, Miami, in a card headlined by a bantamweight title fight between Sean O'Malley and Marlon 'Chito' Vera.
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