Neiman Gracie has his eyes on a few names for his return, but there’s one in particular that stands out for him.
The former Bellator welterweight title challenger has interest in taking on Michael Page for his first bout of 2020. Gracie last fought at Bellator 222 this past June, when he lost to Rory MacDonald in a five-round decision. It was for the welterweight title and part of Bellator’s welterweight grand prix. Gracie was set to return in December at Bellator 236 but was forced to withdraw from the contest due to a hand injury.
Now, almost 100 percent healthy, Gracie (9-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) wants to get a date for a fight soon and says “MVP” (17-1 MMA, 13-1 BMMA) would be an opponent of interest.
“I just want to fight but there are a couple of guys that I have seen that I want to fight like Michael ‘Venom’ Page,” Gracie said. “I’ve always wanted to fight him. I think it’s an interesting fight because he’s a great striker and I’m a great grappler and that’s a great fight. The guy who beat Ed Ruth (Yaroslav Amosov) that guy is really good and I think we match up well because we’re great grapplers. I think it would be a good fight but I’ll fight anyone.”
Page is currently on a three-fight win streak. His lone professional loss came to current champion Douglas Lima back in May 2019.
Despite his incredible highlight-reel knockouts, many have criticized Page’s level of opposition, citing it’s not up to par of his own level. Gracie is aware of criticism towards Page, but he doesn’t necessarily agree with it.
“Some of the guys he fights are tough, and some of the guys he fights might not be that well known, but I also think it’s just that he makes it look easy,” Gracie explained. “And if you make it look easy, people think they’re easy – like, ‘Oh that guy was nothing.’
“The last two guys I fought before Ed Ruth, those guys had never been submitted before, and I fought them and I finished them. People were saying, ‘Those guys are nothing, they’re tomato cans,’ but they were actually tough guys. They were coming off like three or four wins, and after they fought with me, some of them lost but they lost like split decisions to very good guys. Sometimes when you make it look easy, people think you’re fighting a tomato can, but they’re not.
“I think that he’s tough. I think he’d be an interesting fight. I respect him, and I think he’s a really good fighter. I want to fight him because he’s good, but not only him but there’s other guys, too.”
As of now, due to COVID-19 concerns, Bellator has canceled five events, including their June 6 fight card. Gracie said the promotion was working to find him a bout for that event prior to the cancellation. It’s uncertain when the Viacom-owned company will return to its normal schedule, but Gracie hopes to fight as soon as possible once the company is back up and running.
Neiman Gracie interested in Michael Page matchup: 'He's a great striker, and I'm a great grappler'
