Former Bellator star Michael ‘Venom’ Page convincingly beat Kevin Holland on the scorecards tonight at UFC 299, landing a variety of hard-hitting blows along the way.
Round One:
Holland steps in for a punch to start and almost eats a counter from Page. Page with a kick.
Venom agile on the outside and then darts into a punch that connects. leg kick for Holland.
Venom already comfortable and showboating in his debut. Holland lunges into a big punch and then works into the clinch against the cage. Shoulder shrugs from Holland.
Page able to break away. Counter right hand from Page. From range Venom darts in with another punch.
Now a clinch from Venom and lands a punch as he backs out of it. Body kick for Page. Good start from him.
Holland trying to close the distance but eats a right hand. Again another punch from range for the former Bellator fighter.
Now Page is clinching up against the cage. Not too much happening and they break away. Holland with a good punch. He continues to press forward.
Holland initiates a clinch but nothing comes of it. Page with a spinning elbow as Holland comes forward that gets through. Holland Trying for his own elbow as the round ends but doesn’t land it.
Round Two:
Page quick on the attack again in the second round. Nice punch from Holland though and then works into the clinch against the cage.
Page able to get away. Page now light on his feet on the outside waiting to attack. Holland looks a bit unsure what to do here. Right hand for Venom.
Page tried a head kick but lost his balance and that enables Holland to rush in and get the clinch. He works over to the cage. Holland able to drag Venom down and is going for a choke here. He gives up on that and blasts down some very hard elbows and Page looks panicked. He survives that onslaught though as HOlland slows his pace.
Over two minutes left as Holland has his forearm against Page’s throat in half-guard. Venom does a good job of finding space to get back to his feet.
Right hand lands for Page. Holland steps into a punch but Page almost catches him with a counter. Holland into the clinch but nothing comes of it.
Back at striking range now. Calf kick for Holland. Right hand lands for Page. another clipping punch from Venom and then a leg sweep that causes Holland to lose his balance and he stumbles to the mat. He lands a low kick from the ground and then gets back up.
Beautiful spinning elbow lands for Page in the final seconds of the round.
Round Three:
Punch disguises a trip from Venom that sends Holland to the mat. He doesn’t follow him down and Holland gets back up.
Holland able to get in close and around to the back. Over to the cage they go with Holland looking to bring him down. Page down to his knees. He does well to get back up and back to striking range.
Venom steps into a big punch. Another leg sweep puts Holland down again. Venom showboating while he waits for him to stand again.
Page patient and then steps into a big body kick. Now that spinning elbow again. Holland with a big miss but gets into the clinch. However Page escapes and now is pressing him into the cage.
Shoulder shrug and a knee from Page in close. Holland turns into him and then Page gets away.
Missed leg kick from Holland. Straight left from Page and Holland clinches up and walks him over to the cage again.
Page able to escape again. Step-in right hand for Venom. Holland trying to come forward and land but nothing’s really paying off for him. Holland mimics Page running away as he shows his frustration late in the round, but the reality is that Venom has schooled him in the striking and done well to survive his attempts to best him on the mat.
Prediction:
A very good debut from ‘Venom’ Page then as he got to show off his unique striking prowess and personality on his way to a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x3).
