Page: 'Still a few hurdles' before UFC deal can be finalized

Free agent Michael "Venom" Page is in talks with the UFC, but it's not a done deal.

The longtime Bellator welterweight contender said in an interview published Sunday that a few things still need to happen before he puts pen to paper with the MMA leader.

"I wish I could say for certain that we have (signed with the UFC), but we haven't," Page said on "The MMA Fan Show." "Honestly speaking, we're not there yet. There's still a few hurdles we need to jump over. But like I said, we're flirting."

There had been rumors about a potential deal for months. And then UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the two sides were in discussions after Page appeared at the UFC 294 pay-per-view event - and posed for a photo alongside White - in October in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Page announced in July that he had entered free agency after nine years with Bellator.

When asked if he views competing in the UFC as a dream scenario, "MVP" wasn't sure.

"I think there's dream fights, and a lot of those dream fights land in the UFC," Page said.

He added, "When you first join MMA, the whole goal was UFC because there was no other big shows that could really do anything. Over time, things have changed. It's a lot more than just the name of the brand. There's a lot more to it now.

"But hopefully, we can get there and see those dream fights happen."

Bellator, Page's longtime promotion, was acquired by the PFL last week in a landmark deal for MMA. The 36-year-old Englishman said the PFL "is definitely an interesting location to go to."

Page, who has 21 wins in 23 pro MMA bouts, is coming off a knockout victory over Goiti Yamauchi in March. Page dabbled in bare-knuckle boxing last year in a BKFC fight against Mike Perry.