The Joe Rogan ExperienceJRE MMA Show #170 with Michael "Venom" Page
CHAPTERS
Why point-fighting footwork is MMA’s hardest puzzle (and why Rogan championed it)
Joe and Michael "Venom" Page (MVP) open by discussing why MVP’s movement-heavy, point-fighting style is so difficult for traditional MMA strikers to solve. MVP explains the early hate he received after going viral and thanks Rogan for publicly defending the value of point-fighter skills in MMA.
Psychological warfare, “calm down,” and the myth of “fighting cans”
They dig into how MVP’s elusiveness frustrates opponents mentally, not just physically. Rogan highlights MVP’s in-fight taunts as psychological pressure, while MVP argues his dominance makes opponents look worse than they are.
The Cyborg flying knee: gruesome KO, Poké Ball celebration, and meeting him later
Rogan and MVP revisit the iconic Cyborg knockout, including the shocking skull injury and the sound of impact. MVP explains he didn’t realize the extent of the damage in the moment and recounts an awkward later encounter after another injury incident involving Cyborg’s student.
From “MMA isn’t for me” to London Shoot Fighters: learning grappling by tapping constantly
MVP explains he never expected to do MMA and initially viewed it as too brutal for a point fighter. After kickboxing plateaued financially and competitively, he explored gyms—starting with American Top Team—then fell in love with London Shoot Fighters, where he first learned grappling the hard way.
Childhood grind: losing for years, then a ‘matrix’ breakthrough at ISKA Worlds
MVP recounts getting beaten regularly as a kid while his brothers won medals—until a breakthrough tournament run at the ISKA World Championships. After an exhausting day of many matches, something “clicked,” and he returned home suddenly able to dominate the same opponents who used to beat him.
Origins of “Venom,” creativity, and why unpredictability beats pattern recognition
MVP explains how his nickname came from early sparring power and a kung-fu-movie-inspired creative mindset. Rogan ties that creativity to MMA’s pattern-recognition nature—arguing MVP’s unconventional rhythms force opponents to think in real time without reliable templates.
Sparring scarcity, exhaustion from feints, and heavyweight talk: Aspinall, Jon Jones, Ngannou
They discuss the downside of being uniquely hard to mimic—MVP struggles to find willing sparring partners. The conversation branches into elite athletic outliers like Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones’ gamesmanship, and the unreal power/marketability of Francis Ngannou.
How fighters become stars: branding, walkouts, mic work, and lessons from WWE/Chael/Conor
MVP explains he treated self-marketing as part of the craft—studying WWE and building repeatable visual cues (stance, sayings, walkout moments). Rogan agrees and contrasts effective authenticity with cringe attempts, highlighting how some fighters’ “no personality” becomes the brand itself.
Elite skill vs. performing under pressure: Lerone Murphy, “all gas no brakes,” and unseen gym monsters
They explore how world-class talent still depends on composure when it counts, using Lerone Murphy vs Aaron Pico as an example of timing and restraint. MVP then tells stories about extraordinary training partners (like Galo “Hadouken” Mufundo) who looked magical in the gym but couldn’t fully express it in fights, leading to a discussion on mental coaching.
Fight-day psychology: why MVP dances, why nerves hit in the UFC, and handling online hate
MVP explains that his dancing is often self-regulation—keeping things playful to avoid stress and stay in flow. He describes how UFC pressure oddly hit harder in later fights, plus how reading early YouTube comments after going viral shocked him with negativity.
Rules, wrestling control, and ‘try to kill me’: scoring debates from Khabib to Khamzat
They debate MMA’s competitive reality: positional control can win even if it’s not exciting, because it’s the safest path for some fighters. Rogan uses Khamzat’s dominance as an example of “just win” strategy, while MVP argues fans and fighters respect damage-and-finish intent more than clock-watching control.
Weight cutting: ‘legalized cheating,’ hydration checks, and MVP’s relatively mild cuts
The conversation shifts to weight cutting as a systemic problem—fighters depleting themselves 24 hours before a fight for size advantage. Rogan proposes random weigh-ins/hydration enforcement, while MVP shares his own approach (much smaller cuts) and reacts to extreme examples like TJ Dillashaw at flyweight.
Training beyond fighting: Pilates/yoga benefits, women’s cycle-syncing, and MVP’s next ventures
They close on training longevity and recovery—MVP credits Pilates-style stabilizer work and discusses his wife’s cycle-synced training approach for women, raising implications for women’s MMA camps and weight cuts. MVP then plugs his upcoming plans: filmmaking, acting, and multiple businesses, before wrapping the episode.
