Michael “Venom” Page may now be recognized as one of the UFC’s most dangerous strikers and a complete mixed martial artist, but his first encounters with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu were anything but smooth.
Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience, the kickboxing phenom admitted that the early days on the mats were a harsh reality check — even for an elite-level fighter:
All I was doing every day was applauding people because I was tapping every two seconds.
I just… Every two seconds.
Having trained since the age of three and competed since five, Page entered BJJ as one of the world’s most accomplished stand-up fighters.
Yet, on the ground, his experience meant little:
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.It’s a humiliating feeling.
Page eventually adapted, adding a well-rounded grappling skill set to his arsenal.
Early in his MMA career, he even secured several submission wins before rising to prominence in Bellator and later joining the UFC, where he’s now ranked among the top middleweights.
He’s also tested himself in pure grappling competition, earning a decision victory over former UFC champion Carlos Condit at Polaris 30.
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