JRE MMA Show #170 with Michael "Venom" Page

Michael "Venom" Page discusses his unique, elusive point-fighting style in MMA, his transition from kickboxing to the UFC, and the importance of personality and marketing in a fighter's career, while also highlighting the extreme mental and physical challenges of the sport.

• Michael Page's elusive point-fighting style creates psychological and physical challenges for traditional MMA opponents.

• Page believes marketing and personality are crucial for fighters to stand out and build a memorable brand in the UFC.

• Weight cutting poses significant health risks in combat sports, leading to calls for reforms to prioritize fighter well-being.

Michael "Venom" Page is recognized for his enigmatic and difficult-to-solve point-fighting style in MMA, which emphasizes speed, elusiveness, and not being touched, drawing comparisons to fencing. He highlights the psychological warfare his style inflicts on opponents and the challenges of finding sparring partners and securing fights in the UFC due to his unique approach. Page also underscores the critical role of personality and marketing for fighters to create a memorable brand and stand out in the highly competitive world of combat sports, revealing his entrepreneurial ventures and creative pursuits outside fighting.

MVP's Unique Style

• 00:01:16 Michael "Venom" Page (MVP) discusses his elusive point-fighting style in MMA, which prioritizes speed, getting in and out, and avoiding contact, drawing comparisons to fencing. This style, championed by Joe Rogan early in MMA, frustrates opponents who are unaccustomed to such movement and elusiveness in the cage. Page emphasizes that true power in fighting only matters if a strike lands, making his untouchable approach a significant advantage.

Skepticism & Validation

• 00:05:51 Page faced significant criticism throughout his career, with many dismissing his opponents as 'cans,' but he argues he simply makes fights look less difficult than they are. His unique timing and movement make it hard for traditional fighters to engage, creating a mental and physical challenge. His spectacular knockout of Cyborg, which caused a gruesome head injury, became a pivotal 'proof of concept' for his style, validating its effectiveness despite the initial backlash.

Transition to MMA

• 00:11:54 After a successful but stagnant career in kickboxing that lacked recognition and financial reward, Page decided to retire from points fighting to pursue a professional combat sport. He initially considered boxing and full-contact kickboxing before exploring MMA, training at American Top Team in Miami and eventually London Shoot Fighters. Despite initially seeing MMA as brutal and not suiting his points-fighting background, he fell in love with the grappling aspect, despite the humbling experience of being frequently submitted.

Childhood Fighting Journey

• 00:19:47 Page recounts his challenging childhood in point fighting, where he consistently lost for four to five years while his siblings won everything. A turning point came at a World Championship in Orlando, Florida, where, after numerous fights in one day, he won the competition at age 12. This victory triggered an instantaneous shift in his abilities, allowing him to dominate former tormentors and, by age 13, win senior divisions against older, larger opponents, demonstrating his innate talent and competitive drive.

Origin of "Venom" Name

• 00:28:09 Page received his nickname "Venom" at nine years old from his friend Marvin Francis, who noted his powerful strikes despite his small size. He describes himself as a creative martial artist, constantly experimenting with moves from kung fu movies and incorporating them into his fights. This unconventional approach to fighting has become a hallmark of his style, making him unpredictable and difficult for opponents to prepare for, as he avoids typical patterns in MMA.

UFC Challenges & Mindset

• 00:56:00 Page reveals he felt significant pressure in his second and third UFC fights, unlike his debut, due to the magnitude of the organization and the expectation to live up to his reputation for spectacular knockouts and celebrations. He emphasizes the importance of a fun, relaxed mindset in the cage, using dancing and joking to manage stress and stay sharp, a coping mechanism stemming from his childhood experiences of competing against his loving siblings rather than opponents he hated.

Weight Cutting Issues

• 01:17:50 The podcast critically discusses the severe issues with weight cutting in combat sports, with Page himself cutting significant weight for his 170-pound fights. Joe Rogan and Page agree it is 'legalized cheating' and poses serious health risks, with fighters often becoming severely dehydrated and diminished before fights. They advocate for a system where fighters compete closer to their natural weight to ensure health, fairness, and optimal performance, citing examples of extreme and dangerous weight cuts by other fighters.

Beyond the Octagon

• 02:29:05 Michael Page emphasizes the importance of having pursuits beyond fighting, stating he will not be a fighter who repeatedly retires and returns. He channels his creative mind into filmmaking, having already produced two short films: 'Runner,' exploring an athlete's toxic pursuit of greatness, and 'Wait,' depicting anxiety from perspectives of good and bad news. Page also owns a beef jerky company, Snapdown Snacks, and a Mexican restaurant in the UK, demonstrating his diverse entrepreneurial endeavors.