Three years ago the brand that is Michael 'Venom' Page was at the height of its popularity. After years of highlight reel knockouts and main-event pay-per-view boxing-esque walkouts, Page was finally going to bring it all to the big time.
His deal at Bellator MMA had expired and there was only one real option from there as he made the move to MMA's premium organization, the UFC, at the age of 36.
Nevertheless, he was a star and had been one of the key protagonists of MMA in the UK for a number of years, with the announcement hailed as a major coup for the UFC.
Fast forward three years, and the hype feels like a distant memory. The now ageing fighter failed to record a single finish, let alone a flashy one, in his six UFC fights. His time in the company, though, was made up of an impressive run of decision victories with his only defeat coming to welterweight title contender Ian Machado-Garry. Page beat UFC veterans Jared Cannonier and Kevin Holland, and the much-hyped talent Shara Magomedov.
Those wins weren't enough for Dana White and co. who opted against extending Page's deal last month after a drab points win in Paris caused the crowd to boo the lack of action, with the Londoner later announcing that he has signed with KSI's Misfits Boxing on a three-fight deal.
He says he leaves the UFC with no regrets after a polarising stint.
"It was a question mark over my head for many, many years. Can I do it in the UFC? I was top 10 in two divisions, not even just one," Page tells ESPN. "So I'm proud of what I was able to achieve."
After a tight decision loss to Machado-Garry in his second UFC fight, the opportunities at welterweight appeared to dry up for a man chasing gold. So he jumped up to middleweight to take a fight that not many in his position would have, against the then-unbeaten Magomedev. Page out-struck a feted striker and notably received more support that night from the crowd in Saudi Arabia than he did from his home crowd at UFC London in March where he won a gun-shy, underwhelming fight over Sam Patterson. That win over Magomedov remains the Russian's only professional defeat to date.
After Magomedov, Page scored multiple knockdowns on the way to another decision victory, this time over former middleweight title challenger Cannonier. There was some taunting in there too as the UFC finally got a real taste of the MVP that shot to stardom through sheer persona; his Undertaker-style walkout before his debut against Holland was another example of the personality that made him such a big star.
The jump to middleweight was short though, with Page soon back at welterweight for his London homecoming earlier this year, a fight that he won but in truth signalled the end of a UFC experiment that on paper had gone swimmingly, but in the eyes of the fans and matchmakers, had failed to ignite. There is irony in the fact that he won comfortably that night against Patterson amid the backdrop of boos, and then won again to round off his UFC career against Nursulton Ruziboev in Paris. But, simply winning wasn't enough for Page, and with no finishes in six fights, the writing was on the wall.
"My style keeps you on edge. And then if you don't get that release of something spectacular at the end, you feel disappointed," Page says.
"Because there's a higher expectation from me, I feel there's more pressure on me to get results. They [the fans] are excited by me, but there's also a heavier criticism when they don't get what they want.
"I think my fights underwhelmed. I was more disappointed because again, I know what I could do. So I feel like that same similar expectation of myself and as much as I was getting wins, I could have done it better.
"I want exciting fights, but also you want progression.
"I don't have a UFC belt and I've got a smile. I'm very happy right now. So again, it's swings and roundabouts. Yes, it was my goal for while I was there. I didn't achieve it, cool. That's one thing I didn't achieve. There's other things that I did achieve. So you've just got to take it for what it is."
Throughout his time in the UFC and prior, Page has always been an advocate for fighter pay, benefits and various social injustice causes. His walkouts, post-fight interviews and moments outside the cage were often what thrust him into the spotlight while with Bellator, but it was an aspect of his UFC career that became cast aside. After his win over Patterson at UFC London, Page was not even given an in-Octagon interview to respond to his own fans.
Page harbors no ill feelings towards the UFC despite questioning if White was ever a fan of his. UFC didn't respond when asked by ESPN about that comment. Page, in fact, saying he was impressed with how the sport's only real global powerhouse is run.
"The experience of the UFC, being a part of the UFC, the staff at the UFC, the promotion, the crowds, there's so many positives. I had a great time. I can't sit here and be like, 'Oh no, no, it was dead.' Nah, I had a great time," he adds.
"Yeah, I feel like after the Shara 'The Bullet' fight, I felt something shift. It was a bit cold. I think if it came as a shock, I'd feel a bit more hard done by, but I kind of anticipated this kind of feeling over the last few fights anyway.
"And at least I've done my stint. It's in my resume as part of my career going to the UFC and competing and actually doing well. So no regrets, no hard feelings."
Page says his three-fight Misfits deal is worth significantly more than what he was paid at the UFC. Finances aside, the move itself may raise some eyebrows in the combat sports world but at 39, Page has signed to a promotion that can offer him big fights at the twilight of his career, with his friend KSI's involvement in the organisation seemingly pushing things along, too. Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions expressed interest, he says.
He mentions Darren Till and Tommy Fury as potential big-name opponents but Misfits' ambition to move into the sphere of MMA gives the promotion another tick in Page's eyes while also allowing him not to completely move away from the sport that made him.
"Just stepped through the door [at Misfits], just arrived, but it's exciting times. Some good things to look forward to," Page says.
"And again, it's just a sign of constant progression. So there was, again, a dampening around my name with regards to the UFC and how things went. I've always proven to continue growing and going upwards.
"It's not just boxing. So I have massive aspirations to do MMA [here], which is one of the things they spoke to me about, which was what enticed me more. I'm definitely interested in boxing again, but I still want to continue doing what I do best.
"So their aspirations to get into MMA and almost me being the face of that, leading that way is what was the most exciting. On top of that, like I said, they spoke with their wallet. They spoke loudly. So that in itself, it means I'm leaving the UFC and still getting more financially, so still moving up.
"One thing I'm doing is I'm going to be almost a pioneer for them opening up the MMA world."
Fights against the likes of Tommy Fury and Darren Till in 2027 are perhaps not where Page thought he would be after a four-fight UFC win streak. They do, however, give the Brit an opportunity to end his career on his terms, headlining shows on his side of the Atlantic and giving combat sports fans a final taste of the style that made him such a maverick.
"It's not about me in the same way anymore. I don't need to aspire to anything. I don't need to chase fights. I'm that guy," Page says. "The only thing I need to make sure that I'm doing now is, like I said, being better on the night.
"Go back to giving the fans what they're craving. If I give that to them, I'm sorted."
After all he has already given the game of MMA and its fans, especially in the UK, now might just be the time for Page to cash in as he takes up the role of Misfits' most valuable asset.