Bellator 267: Michael Page Feels Douglas Lima “Stuck In His Ways”

On both a personal and professional level, Michael Page’s Bellator 267 rematch with Douglas Lima is a big fight.

“Personally, my personality has always been quite petty, should I say, in terms that I always have to get somebody back. I’ve got a little black book,” Page told Cageside Press during Bellator 267’s media day on Wednesday. That sort of competitive fire means that “even in the gym, anybody catches me with a submission, I’ve got to get you back. Anybody hits me with a takedown, I’ve got to get you back, hits me with a punch, I’ve got to get you back. I’ve always been like that. So that’s personally, imagine losing a fight, I have to get you back, and I always do.”

Lima represents the lone loss on Page’s record, a highlight reel knockout that came back in the welterweight grand prix in 2019. “Professionally, just to be fair, it’s just part of the career really. We’re in a very tough sport, things like that just happen,” Page said regarding the loss. “I need to analyze, figure things out, go back and do it again even better this time.”

This time comes at home in London, England, where Page should have the fans behind him. When it comes to the match-up, he’s not exactly anticipating a Douglas Lima that has changed all that much.

“I don’t think he’s that much different. I think he’s a person that’s been very successful with the style that he has, so he’s a person that’s not going to learn too many new tricks,” Page suggested. “He’s stuck in his ways. He’s got a certain way of fighting. So in terms of how he’s progressed, I don’t think there’s been too much, he just kind of does a similar type of thing.”

That’s in stark contrast to how Michael “Venom” Page sees his own growth.

“For myself, I genuinely feel ten times faster, ten times stronger.” Page revealed he’s made considerable changes in his dietary habits and personal life day-to-day. “It’s definitely taken a positive effect. I feel good, I feel great coming into this fight. A lot of fighters are walking around like zombies because they’re so tired, and I’ve got bundles of energy and we’re still cutting weight. I feel great.”

Watch the full Bellator 267 virtual media day press scrum with Michael Page above. More coverage of the event can be found below. Bellator 267 takes place Friday, October 1 live at the SSE Arena, Wembly, United Kingdom.