UFC’s Michael “Venom” Page built his name on unorthodox striking and highlight-reel knockouts — but stepping into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu stripped away much of that confidence. On The Joe Rogan Experience, the British MMA star opened up about how tough his early grappling days were and how steep the learning curve felt when moving from point fighting to MMA.
“I was tapping every two seconds,” Page admitted, recalling his first experiences with BJJ at his London gym. Coming from a successful kickboxing background, he had never trained in grappling before and the contrast was immediate.
“All I was doing every day was applauding people because I was tapping every two seconds. I just… every two seconds,” he said. The frustration ran deep, especially when being dominated by training partners he believed he could easily handle outside the gym.
“I’m looking at this guy like if I saw you on the street in my head, I’m destroying you. But this guy just twisted me up into a pretzel,” Page said. “It’s a humiliating feeling.”
Even with the repeated submissions and bruised ego, Page kept showing up.
“But I loved it though,” he said, explaining that the challenge itself kept him hooked.
It wasn’t the first time he had been humbled. Page compared the experience to his early point MMA days when he constantly lost to his siblings.
“He was for me, he was the more talented one. But I mean like every single weekend we’re driving to Birmingham to Manchester to Scotland… and I’m just boss lip and they’re just the medals are just like clinging,” he remembered.
Those early setbacks may have prepared him mentally for BJJ. Page learned to embrace the process even while being dominated on the mats.
After a successful year that’s seen him notch victories over Shara Magomedov and former title challenger Jared Cannonier, Michael ‘Venom’ Page is determined to step into the Octagon one more time before 2026 arrives. While his initial plans for a November or December return fell through — with targeted opponent Carlos Prates now booked to face Leon Edwards — Page remains focused on a marquee matchup. His top priority is a high-profile showdown with the winner of Edwards vs. Prates, ideally Edwards himself, on home soil at UFC London in March. Until then, the flashy striker is open to other challenges.
