Jared Cannonier and Michael 'Venom' Page during their introductions in the UFC Octagon. Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Jared Cannonier addresses rumors that UFC threatened to cut him if he didn’t fight Michael ‘Venom’ Page

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow
By Christopher De Santiago | Last updated Jul 28, 2025 8:32 PM ET

Jared Cannonier wasn’t too happy when he got offered to fight Michael ‘Venom’ Page.

At 41 years old, the former UFC title challenger is still in pursuit of the middleweight title. Cannonier earned a title fight with then champion Israel Adesanya in 2022, where he lost via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 276.

Cannonier has went 3-2 since then, and now the #7 UFC middleweight is set to take on another top striker in the unranked Michael ‘Venom’ Page at UFC 319 on Aug. 16 in Chicago.

Following the fight announcement, UFC veteran Joe Riggs claimed Cannonier ‘wasn’t too excited’ with the ‘MVP’ fight, telling Tim Welch he heard something about Dana White putting Cannonier on the ‘chopping block’.

Cannonier has responded to the rumors suggesting he wasn’t given much of a choice against Page.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Jared Cannonier expresses frustration with Michael ‘Venom’ Page fight offer

This week, Cannonier was asked if there was any truth to the rumors and what issues he had with the Page matchup.

“The issues that I have with the fight is that he’s not really a middleweight,” Cannonier told Submission Radio.

“I’m focused on getting back to the title. I understand it’s a big fight. It’s on a big card. So, there is some weight there.

“But, that’s the rumor you guys have heard,” Cannonier said of Riggs airing out the rumor he might’ve been cut if he didn’t accept the Page fight.

“I’m gonna leave it at that, a rumor that y’all heard…

“No,” Cannonier said if the Page matchup has ‘grown on him’ yet.

“It’s business as usual. It’s all about the next fight, to be honest. It’s not that, he may be unranked, but, I don’t know. I can’t really make any reasoning behind the matchmaking…”

Michael ‘Venom’ Page gets top fight at middleweight after lone win

Michael ‘Venom’ Page was a longtime Bellator welterweight, who joined the UFC in 2024.

Page entered the UFC welterweight rankings when he defeated Kevin Holland in his debut at UFC 299, but lost his next fight to Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303.

Page made his middleweight debut earlier this year at UFC Riyadh, giving Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov his first pro loss by decision.

Currently unranked, it’s a bit of surprise Page gets a top contender like Cannonier after one win at middleweight. ‘MVP’ is considered one of the best strikers to come across the Octagon, which should make for a great fight with Cannonier.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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