Bellator 248 results, highlights: Michael Page scores decision over Ross Houston, in position for title shot

'MVP' didn't look his best, but he did enough to earn the judges' decision over the 15-minute bout

Bellator MMA welterweight contender Michael "Venom" Page likely stamped his ticket to a title shot on Saturday following a unanimous decision victory over Ross Houston. 

The 175-pound catchweight bout served as the main event of Bellator 248 from AccorHotels Arena in Paris. The card was the first for a major promotion in the nation of France after the sport was made legal earlier this year. 

The 33-year-old Page, known for his flashy and explosive strikes, was able to simply rely on the threat of them in cruising to a comfortable decision on judges' scores of 29-28 and 30-27 (twice). CBS Sports also had it 30-27 for the native of England. 

Page (18-1) won his fourth straight fight since being knocked out by Douglas Lima during the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix in 2019. The tournament ended with Lima regaining the title in a rematch against Rory MacDonald. 

Lima is scheduled to face Gegard Mousasi on Oct. 29 for the promotion's vacant middleweight title and hasn't decided whether he will keep the welterweight crown. Page certainly presents the possibility of a must-see rematch regardless of how the Mousasi fight turns out after his well-rounded performance on Saturday. 

Houston (8-1), a former Cage Warriors champion at 170 pounds, provided enough adversity to avoid becoming a highlight-reel knockout victim. The 32-year-old from Scotland also had success in taking Page down and keeping him there over the final two-plus minutes of the opening round. 

Unfortunately for Houston, however, he was unable to land a single strike while on top and never appeared to be in the fight against over the final two rounds. Page stuffed an early takedown in Round 2 and reversed into one of his own before unloading clean strikes from top position. 

Page became the aggressor from there and landed enough clean right hands to lower Houston's output and confidence. The final round saw Houston crawl into a shell of inactivity, almost content to go the distance while working from the clinch. 

Bellator 248 card, results

• Michael "Venom" Page def. Ross Houston via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Oliver Enkamp def. Emmanuel Dawa via first-round submission (Japanese neck tie)
• Alan Omer def. Ryan Scope via first-round TKO (punches)
• Mads Burnell def. Darko Banovic via first-round TKO (punches)

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:30 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

Scorecards: 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27 for Michael Page.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:28 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R3: The crowd boos until the end as Page was content holding Houston up in the standing clinch. Anticlimactic ending to the action.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:26 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R3: Crowd begins to boo the lack of action. Page easily avoids a spinning backfist but stumbles a bit going for a combination which leads to a standing clinch.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:25 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R3: Page's stalking is providing constant stress on Houston's defense. It has forced him into a shell and not throwing back.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:24 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 3: Quick jabs from Page. He is walking Houston down and switching stances.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:22 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

Dominant round for Page. He landed clean shots early before taking the action to the ground.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:22 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R2: Page sits up and lands hammer strikes. Nice control on the ground and he's mixing in short punches.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:21 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R2: Page sprawls beautifully to avoid the takedown. MVP forces the clinch and lands a knee before sweeping him into a takedown.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:20 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R2: Short combination lands for Page. He avoids a spinning backfist attempt and lands a stiff jab.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:19 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R2: Nice reversal from Page ends with Houston on his back for a takedown. Page lands leap-in hammer shots. A punch lands to the back of the head and Anderson calls time out to make sure Houston is okay from the illegal strike.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:18 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R2: Page barely misses a step-in right uppercut. Houston ducks a punch and nearly takes Page down. Page stands up tall and backs to the cage wall as they clinch.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:17 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 2: Page opens the round with a higher guard than he started with. Short right hand lands for Page.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:16 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

It will be interesting to see how that first round is judged considering Houston was unable to do much with his takedown.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:15 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R1: Houston still hasn't landed a clean strike from the top despite holding Page down to end the round.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:15 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R1: Houston nearly gets full mount before Page flattens out to prevent it but Houston has him pinned very effectively.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:14 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R1: Houston digs his left forearm into Page's throat before moving to side control.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:13 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R1: Houston catches a knee attempt and takes Page down. This is where Houston wants and needs to work from putting Page on his back.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:12 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R1: Both fighters having trouble slipping. Right hand from Page split the guard. That was an early taste of MVP's power.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:12 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R1: Page nearly does the same after landing a quick left hand and putting one hand down to stop from falling.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:12 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

R1: Page taunts Houston by slowly extending his right leg without actually kicking. Page is dancing and Houston slips briefly after missing a kick attempt.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:11 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

ROUND 1: Lead right hand from Page is smothered by Houston. Page is dancing back and forth as he backs Houston up to the cage.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:10 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

Todd Anderson is the referee for this main event.

[Oct 10, 2020 at 1:10 pm ET · Brian Campbell]

Page extends his right arm high in the air during the touching of gloves segment before the start of the fight.