Josh Barnett Warns Misfits Could Collapse Over MVP Deal

Josh Barnett is publicly questioning Misfits' financial strategy after Michael "Venom" Page claimed his new three-fight deal with the promotion will pay him more than his entire six-fight run in the UFC.

Page says he will earn seven figures per fight under his new contract with MF Sports' Misfits, a sharp jump from his UFC pay despite leaving the promotion with a 5-1 record after it chose not to renew him. Barnett, the former UFC heavyweight champion, responded on social media by casting doubt on the number and warning that if it is accurate, Misfits could be setting itself up for the same fate as other failed MMA upstarts.

What Did Josh Barnett Say About Michael Page's Misfits Deal

Josh Barnett argued that Page's claim is either a publicity exaggeration or evidence that Misfits is burning through capital at an unsustainable rate. "Either Page is telling a very bold lie for publicity sake... Or Misfits has decided to run the same old formula of: jumping into the MMA market, overspending like mad, burning through all their capital in record speed, and soon to be another gravestone in the marketplace due to either incompetence or intent to raise and burn capital on the way to fire-sailing what remains," Barnett wrote on X, later clarifying he meant Misfits and not MVP, Page's own nickname-turned-initials.

Barnett pointed to EliteXC, Affliction, the International Fight League and World Series of Fighting as promotions that collapsed after similar spending sprees. He closed his post with a blunt warning for the roster Misfits is building. "Oh, and it's the FIGHTERS in the end who truly get screwed over...again," Barnett wrote.

Why This Matters for Misfits and Its Fighters

Misfits has built its MMA push by signing names with crossover appeal, and Michael Page is its highest-profile recruit yet after a run through Bellator and a short UFC stint. A seven-figure per-fight deal would represent a massive bet by Misfits that Page can draw pay-per-view or streaming numbers well beyond what he generated inside the UFC, where he went 5-1 but still wasn't retained. Barnett's history gives his warning some weight. Heavyweight promotions that tried to outspend the UFC for name talent, rather than build infrastructure and depth, have a poor survival record, and Barnett competed through that exact era.

For bettors, the story is less about a fight and more about the stability of a promotion some fans may start wagering on as Misfits expands its MMA slate. A promotion burning cash to lock up stars can produce short-term spectacle but long-term chaos, including canceled cards, delayed fighter pay or a sudden sale of its library and contracts, all of which complicate futures markets and prop betting tied to any fighter signed there. Until Misfits proves it can sustain big-money contracts across a real schedule, oddsmakers and bettors alike should treat any Misfits MMA line with more caution than a standard UFC or Bellator fight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Josh Barnett say about Michael Page's Misfits contract?

Josh Barnett said on X that Michael Page's claim of a seven-figure-per-fight Misfits deal is either exaggerated for publicity or a sign Misfits is overspending in a way that could bankrupt the promotion.

How much is Michael Page making with Misfits compared to the UFC?

Michael Page says his three-fight Misfits contract will pay him more per fight, in the seven figures, than he earned across his six fights in the UFC, where he went 5-1 before not being re-signed.

What promotions did Josh Barnett compare Misfits to?

Josh Barnett cited EliteXC, Affliction, the International Fight League and World Series of Fighting as past MMA promotions that collapsed after overspending on talent.