Michael Page, Shlemenko Set for RAF 14 Wrestling Match
Michael Page faces Alexander Shlemenko in a wrestling match at RAF 14 on Oct. 3 in Las Vegas, both making their RAF debuts.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team.
Michael "Venom" Page will face Alexander Shlemenko in a wrestling match at RAF 14 on Oct. 3 in Las Vegas, marking the RAF debut for both former Bellator standouts.
The two are longtime friends from their years on the Bellator roster, and the wrestling bout gives fans a chance to see them compete against each other in a sport neither is known for. Page currently fights for the UFC, where he has gone 4-1 since signing in 2025. Before that, he built a 17-2 record with Bellator MMA highlighted by highlight-reel knockouts and an interim welterweight title challenge. Shlemenko, 42, made his name the same way, racking up 36 knockouts across an 89-fight career and holding Bellator's middleweight title from 2013 through three successful defenses.
Why Is Michael Page Wrestling Instead of Fighting MMA?
Michael Page taking a wrestling match on the RAF card is a one-off exhibition, not a shift away from his UFC career. He has won three straight fights inside the Octagon, most recently a unanimous decision over Sam Patterson at UFC London in March, and he is already booked for his next UFC bout at UFC Paris on Sept. 5. That turnaround, a wrestling match against Shlemenko less than a month before a scheduled UFC fight, tells you this is a low-risk grappling exhibition rather than a real live-action test. Shlemenko has plenty of submission wins on his resume, 13 of them, but stepping onto RAF mats is uncharted ground for a fighter who made his career with his hands.
RAF 14 is headlined by a real fight with actual stakes: No. 1 UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan taking on Dillon Danis.
Betting Angle
Don't expect sportsbooks to treat this like a traditional matchup. Wrestling exhibitions between MMA strikers rarely draw serious betting markets, and neither Page nor Shlemenko has a wrestling pedigree that gives handicappers much to lean on. The real betting interest at RAF 14 will center on the Tsarukyan-Danis headliner, where Tsarukyan's status as the UFC's top lightweight contender makes him the expected favorite once lines circulate. For fight fans, the Page-Shlemenko meeting is best treated as a novelty undercard attraction rather than a wagering opportunity, with the actual money likely to follow Page into his UFC Paris booking on Sept. 5 instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Michael Page vs. Alexander Shlemenko wrestling match?
Michael Page and Alexander Shlemenko meet in a wrestling match at RAF 14 on Oct. 3 in Las Vegas, marking the RAF debut for both fighters.
Is Michael Page still fighting in the UFC?
Yes, Michael Page remains a UFC fighter with a 4-1 record since joining in 2025 and is booked for his next UFC bout at UFC Paris on Sept. 5.
Who else is fighting at RAF 14?
RAF 14 is headlined by a bout between No. 1 UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan and Dillon Danis.
