Page Slams Welterweights Over Title-Shot Waiting Game

Michael Page has had enough of welterweights ducking him while they wait for a title shot.

The former Bellator standout told Sherdog that fighters ranked above him at 170 pounds would rather sit idle than accept a bout, forcing him to move up to middleweight for competitive matchups. Page faces Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris on September 5.

Why Page Moved Up to Middleweight

Page is 4-1 in the UFC, his only loss coming against Ian Garry, who went on to challenge for the welterweight title. But the Englishman has fought middleweights Sharabutdin Magomedov and Jared Cannonier in his last three appearances before dropping back to 170 to face unranked Sam Patterson in a fight that drew little attention.

"I feel like there's too many people wasting time at welterweight at the moment," Page said, per Sherdog. "Too many people with entitlement issues. They believe that they should be the next in line. And so, they're going to wait and this and that. I don't have the patience for that."

Page said winning a belt remains his goal but criticized the tactical approach taken by top contenders. "There's like seven people being tactical about it. It's annoying. So, I just said, I'll go the tougher route and just move up a weight."

The 37-year-old returns to the cage in Paris looking to make a statement against Ruziboev, who is also unranked at welterweight.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Michael Page slams ‘entitlement issues’ among top UFC welterweights