Michael Page calls for MMA fighters union after leaving UFC for Misfits

Michael 'Venom' Page has called on MMA fighters to organise a union to improve their pay, following his departure from the UFC and move to Misfits Boxing. In an interview with BBC Sport published on Wednesday, the British fighter argued that collective action, rather than individual complaints, was needed to strengthen athletes' position in the sport.

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Page, 39, signed with Misfits earlier this month after winning five of his six UFC bouts following his debut in 2024. He told the BBC that he expected to earn more with his new promotion than he had in the UFC. He now wants to use his platform to encourage other fighters to work together on compensation and treatment.

His appeal centred on the bargaining power fighters could have if they acted together. Page said athletes were essential to the UFC's operation and argued that a shared refusal to compete would carry more weight than isolated criticism. These comments were a call for organisation, not an announcement that a new union had been established or that fighters had agreed to take action.

Page also said concerns about pay were common in conversations with other athletes, but that some were reluctant to speak publicly because they feared consequences. He acknowledged that fighters had bills to meet and said he did not blame those who stayed silent. BBC Sport reported that UFC president Dana White had repeatedly defended the promotion's pay, most recently pointing to Sean Strickland's new contract after criticism from the middleweight champion.

Despite the dispute over earnings, Page spoke positively about much of his UFC experience. He praised its staff, fans and Performance Institute, while acknowledging that he wished he had delivered more with his performances. His broader objective, he said, was to improve conditions for younger fighters and create alternative places for them to compete, giving athletes more options when negotiating.

Page is targeting the first part of next year for his Misfits debut, but said it had not been decided whether he would compete under boxing or MMA rules. He also said discussions had taken place about bringing MMA into the promotion. No talks over potential opponents had taken place, leaving the details of his first appearance unresolved.