Whittaker on Michael Venom Page: Great to Respect, Hard to Watch

Robert Whittaker rates Michael 'Venom' Page. He just can't bring himself to watch him fight live. On his MMArcade Podcast, the former middleweight champ said flatly that he didn't even want to sit through Page's decision win over Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris last Saturday — a result that pushed the 39-year-old Englishman to 5-1 in the UFC and extended his win streak to four.

That streak sounds impressive on paper, and it is: it includes nods over Ruziboev and former title challenger Jared Cannonier, now 18-10 (11 KO) and sitting at #12 in the division. Page is also the only fighter to have beaten Shara Bullet. But none of it saved him from being quietly pulled from rankings eligibility after Paris — a strong signal he's off the roster, given everyone knew Saturday was the final fight on his deal.

Whittaker's Verdict

Whittaker's issue isn't ability. He described Page as fast, fluid, almost dancing in there, and said no one in the UFC beats MVP at point-sparring. That's the problem. Whittaker reckons Page fights like he's reading the judges' scorecards in real time — doing just enough, topping up his lead whenever it dips, and never risking more than he has to.

It's a smart game and Whittaker knows it. He acknowledged the brutal math of the sport: you get paid more when you win, so why gamble? But he also floated the flip side. If Page listens to the criticism and decides to trade, he could just as easily get starched. That's the tightrope every safety-first stylist walks.

Where Page Goes Next

The bigger picture is what this means for Page's marketability. He built his name in Bellator with a highlight reel of viral knockouts against soft opposition, then arrived in the UFC and stopped producing those moments. A four-fight winning run should be a bargaining chip. Instead, it's become a warning label for matchmakers.

Page has already promised to be more exciting next time out, which is a line he's used before. Whether that's inside the UFC or somewhere else is unclear — a new deal is possible, but the removal from rankings suggests the octagon door has, for now, closed behind him. Either way, whoever books him inherits the same puzzle: a fighter nobody enjoys facing, and, per Whittaker, plenty don't enjoy watching either.