Former NBA Rookie of the Year shares three-word reaction to Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Michael 'Venom' Page fight announcement for UFC Saudi 2025
UFC Saudi Arabia will bring Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Michael 'Venom' Page as one of its marquee bouts in 2025. The announcement has left the MMA fandom abuzz given the implications of two thrilling strikers in Magomedov and Page clashing. Among those excited for the matchup is Michael Carter-Williams.
Carter-Williams is an ex-basketball player and 2014's NBA Rookie of the Year. He popped up in the Instagram comment section of an MMA Junkie post announcing the Magomedov vs. Page bout, and he was more than looking forward to the striking extravaganza.
Both Magomedov and Page are flashy, high-level strikers, and the pair's middleweight bout will produce fireworks. It's expected to, at least.
"Stand up banger"
Magomedov is on an excellent run of form, having preserved his spotless 15-0 record. He is currently 4-0 in the UFC, with two decision wins and two stoppages. His latest win was an outrageous spinning backfist knockout of fellow elite striker Armen Petrosyan at UFC 308.
Meanwhile, 'MVP' is 1-1 in the UFC, and coming off a controversial unanimous decision loss to Ian Machado Garry, who implemented a wrestling-heavy gameplan to neutralize him. Nevertheless, Page showed flashes of brilliance and, in the eyes of some, did enough to win the decision.
Regardless, both men are in different positions. Magomedov is being carefully guided along a path to stardom as a future middleweight contender, avoiding any strong wrestlers. Meanwhile, Page is a veteran of the game, having been a star at Bellator but never a world champion.
He is a reliable and fun name that can be used to build other contenders given that he's nearing his forties.
Sharabutdin Magomedov has fought exclusively in the Middle East in the UFC
From the moment Sharabutdin Magomedov signed with the UFC, he has only fought on Middle Eastern soil, alternating between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. His first bout under the UFC banner, a unanimous decision win over Bruno Silva at UFC 294, was in Abu Dhabi.
Check out Sharabutdin Magomedov's knockout of Armen Petrosyan:
His next fight, a TKO win over Antonio Trócoli was in Riyadh at UFC on ABC 6. He followed that up with a return to Abu Dhabi at UFC on ABC 7, defeating Michał Oleksiejczuk via unanimous decision. He stayed in Abu Dhabi for his subsequent fight, a knockout over Armen Petrosyan at UFC 308, catapultitng him to stardom.