“His ability is crazy”: Robert Whittaker’s honest take on Michael Page reveals why UFC fans are still divided after his exit

Michael Page (Image via Getty)

Michael “Venom” Page left the UFC with a winning record, but his latest victory has raised a bigger question about what comes next for the veteran striker. Page defeated Nursulton Ruziboev by unanimous decision at UFC Paris, extending his winning streak to four fights. Yet the victory did not bring the kind of excitement many fans expected from one of MMA’s most recognizable showmen. Instead, it became another technical performance that tested the patience of viewers. Now, former UFC champion Robert Whittaker has offered a blunt explanation for why Page’s fights can be so difficult to watch live, even while admitting how hard he is to beat.

Whittaker’s comments focus on the unusual balance Page has created inside the Octagon. The British fighter is exceptionally difficult to hit cleanly, and his movement, timing and distance control can make opponents hesitate.That skill helped Page finish his UFC run with a 5-1 record. But his ability to win rounds without producing much damage has also become a major talking point.Speaking on the MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker admitted that he struggles to watch Page compete live."I didn't even want to watch it, and I have nothing but respect for MVP," Whittaker said.

"His ability to do what he does at his age is crazy. It's like he's dancing in there. He's so fast and fluid, but I find it so hard to tune in live to MVP winning via points rather than watching it back afterwards. I reckon there isn't a single person that can beat MVP over point sparring in the UFC. He's so good at it."The former champion then explained what he believes makes Page’s style particularly frustrating. In his view, Page appears to recognize exactly when he needs to increase his activity to stay ahead on the scorecards."You know how I feel about it? I feel like it's almost like he has a live feed of the judges' scorecards, like in real time," Whittaker said. "As soon as it starts to drop, he just does a little bit more, and it goes back up. He just does enough, which is the game, right? But, man, it makes it hard to watch fights back when he's doing that."

Page’s UFC career has produced an interesting contrast. During his Bellator years, he became famous for spectacular knockouts and creative attacks. He recorded 12 finishes in 19 Bellator appearances, including 10 knockouts.The UFC version of Page has been much more cautious. All six of his UFC fights went the distance, despite victories over respected names such as Kevin Holland and Shara Magomedov.That difference has helped create a strange situation. Page is still winning, but fans are increasingly judging him against the explosive reputation he built before joining the UFC.Whittaker understands why Page may not want to abandon the style that has kept him successful."He definitely is a puzzle for a lot of fighters," Whittaker said. "He's not fun to fight for anyone. I don't know because, as a fighter, and knowing that you get paid more if you win, it's that tricky balance. Because also, he could go out next fight, listen to our comments, and go out there and just start throwing hands, get starched, cut, and that's it.

That's the reality. That could very well happen, especially after he has kind of just point-won every fight."That may be the central challenge for Page now. If he continues fighting safely, he can remain a difficult matchup. If he tries to recreate his old highlight-reel style, he could create more exciting moments but expose himself to greater risk.With the UFC apparently moving on from Page after his contract ended, his next destination could give him a chance to reset his career. The 39-year-old still has the skills that made him famous. The question is whether his next chapter will be remembered for clever victories or the explosive finishes that first made “MVP” a star.