Michael Page is on a 9 fight win streak. He began his career as a kickboxer, and is currently an undefeated mixed martial artist. In his very first fight, he put his kickboxing background to good use.
He spends the round with his hands down, firing quick, accurate shots at his opponent. His style has been described as cocky and arrogant – Whatever the case, it is unarguably effective. In this fight, his opponent seems hypnotized by Page’s movement, and he is unsure of his attacks. His hesitation allows Page to land the impossible: a tornado kick.
Typically associated with more traditional martial arts, especially Tae Kwon Do, the tornado kick is rarely seen in full-contact combat sports. Seeing the kick land is even rarer. The technique requires putting yourself in a vulnerable position. For a moment, you turn your back to your opponent, and take you eyes off of him. If the technique doesn’t land as planned, you can be left in a position difficult to recover from. If your opponent blocks, you may not land properly, and can be left off-balance. If you miss entirely, you end up turned away from your opponent. It’s a high risk/ high reward attack. For page, it was all reward.
The sequence begins with Page shutting down his opponents takedown. He lets his opponent stand, and, without telegraphing his shot, launches himself into an aerial spin that culminates with his foot connecting to his opponent’s face. His opponent tumbles to the mat, and the referee steps in to stop the fight.
The tornado kick can look beautifully acrobatic when done correctly. It’s a dangerous combination of practiced skill and athleticism that few can perform well. Fewer still can land the tornado kick in an MMA fight. Future opponent’s of Michael Page need to be wary of his unorthodox attacks, and lethal accuracy. Ben Dishman, the recipient of the kick, fought a valiant fight, but was hypnotized by Page’s movement. Michael Page still stands as a puzzle to be solved, and I hope to see more of him, and his unorthodox techniques, in the cage.
