Michael Page talks Joe Rogan’s praise of fighting style
UFC 319 fighter Michael Page spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters at media day for his main card bout vs. Jared Cannonier on Saturday in Chicago.
CHICAGO – After catching wind of Joe Rogan’s high praise of the way he fights, Michael Page was flattered.
In advance of studying Page before he meets former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier at UFC 319 from United Center, Rogan raved about MVP’s creativity in the cage given his past experience.
“You’ve got Michael ‘Venom’ Page, who’s like the biggest puzzle in the entire sport,” Rogan said. “That guy, good luck training for that guy. Just good luck. Super tall welterweight who moves like nobody, who was a world point-fighting champion. That is a totally different thing, that point-fighting thing. Michael ‘Venom’ Page at one point was one of the best karate point fighters.”
Rogan continued, “”He’s super creative, and he also knows how to wrestle now, knows jiu-jitsu now,” Rogan said. “So now he’s a mixed martial arts fighter, but he’s got this one skill set that’s crazy unique. … What MVP is doing is something totally different. Like, you can’t even touch him.”
Page’s response?
“I’ve always thought Joe Rogan is a really smart guy,” Page told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during Wednesday’s media day before explaining what makes him unique. “It’s a puzzle because there aren’t many people that come from my style of background within MMA. Finding training partners (to prepare for me) is next to impossible. The closest person you’re going to find is ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. … It’s difficult simply because there are less of us. Obviously I love my style, but it’s just because there’s a scarcity and people don’t truly understand it until they’re right in front of us.”
Page, a former Bellator welterweight title challenger, is 2-1 since debuting in the UFC last summer at UFC 303. He most recently defeated Shara Magomedov at middleweight in February, which initially was intended as a one-off but is looking like his stay at 185 pounds could be perminent, given MVO sees “more opportunity” in the division.
Page admits he’s still in the process of adjusting.
“I still don’t quite feel like a middleweight,” Page said. “I feel like a welterweight that doesn’t have to cut too much.”
Page hopes to use the creative striking that Rogan raved about against Cannonier. He expects to feel pressure before Cannonier eventually gets frustrated.
“I am kind of expecting him to attempt to do exactly that (pressure),” Page said.T”here’ll just be a lot of oncoming traffic. It’s up to you if you want to run down that road while there’s cars flying at you and how long before you are permanently knocked over.”
