Michael 'Venom' Page is open to another bare-knuckle boxing fight as he works his way towards a Bellator world title shot.
Page, 35, returns to the Bellator cage for the first time in almost a year tonight as he faces Goiti Yamauchi in California. 'Venom' expects that fellow top contender Jason Jackson will be next in line to fight welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov, who defended his belt last month after fighting on the frontline to defend Ukraine from Russia's invasion of the country.
The Brit admitted that he could jump back into bare-knuckle boxing later this year, telling Mirror Fighting: "It's a great thing with Bellator as I've constantly been given the opportunities to do these things, step away and come back. It's all about timing, Bellator takes priority. I was talking about the title shot depending on who wins as Jason Jackson is probably next in line [to fight Amosov].
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"It depends on how long it takes as I need to be active. I don't like sitting still and waiting for the right time to jump back in. If that takes too long to set up because Amosov has just fought and obviously he'll have more time off after his next fight, then potentially I could jump back in [BKFC] and set something up again."
Perry made his BKFC debut last August when he lost a close decision to UFC veteran Mike Perry in London. The former kickboxing world champion was welcomed back into BKFC by the promotion's boss David Feldman, who told Mirror Fighting that he wants to see Perry and Page fight for a second time in the English capital.
"He's 100 per cent welcome back with us, it's just a matter of working it out with Bellator who are great to work with. I don't see any reason why he wouldn't be back, Michael got paid well and got a great reception. It was different for him, like I tell a lot of these guys bare-knuckle fighting is a whole different animal. I think he does have it in him and it would be nice to do the rematch in London."
Page has been competing in Bellator for almost a decade and came up short in his first interim world title shot for the promotion last May when he lost a one-sided decision to Logan Storley. A win against Yamauchi tonight could earn the Londoner his first crack at his division's undisputed title.
