Lima and Page (right) (photo via Bellator)

By FCF Staff

After incurring the first defeat of his MMA career at Bellator 221, Michael Page had nothing but good things to say about the man who handed him the loss.

Page battled former welterweight champ Douglas Lima in the semifinals of Bellator’s ongoing grand prix on Saturday night. In the second round, Lima knocked out the highlight reel striker with a booming right hand.

Following the defeat, which snapped Page’s 14 fight winning streak, “MVP” had this to say about Lima (quote via MMA Junkie):

“In all honesty, if I could lose to anybody I’m glad it was him,” Page said. “He’s an amazing martial artist and person. Right away I said I respected this man. If I could lose to anybody it would be him. So I’m kind of over it. It’s more about bouncing back now and what path I should take.”

“It was a very accurate punch,” Page added. “He’s a person you don’t want to get hit with even at the best of times, so it is what it is.”

Lima, meanwhile, moved his record to 31-7 with the victory. Rory MacDonald will face Neiman Gracie in the other semifinal of the tourney, June 14th.