Michael ‘Venom’ Page Admits Fighting Through Mental Block: "I Wasn't Showcasing My Best"
Michael Page revealed that he was fighting with a lot of mental blocks and pressures of expectations when he was in the UFC, and that stopped him from showcasing his best abilities.
When Michael 'Venom' Page signed with the UFC, fight fans expected the same electrifying highlight reel that terrorized Bellator for over a decade. While Page put together a solid 5-1 record inside the Octagon, culminating in a four-fight winning streak and a unanimous decision win over Nursulton Ruziboev, something felt slightly off. The jaw-dropping knockouts were replaced by methodical decisions. As it turns out, MVP felt the difference too.
Shedding the Mental Weight
Opening up about his tenure in the UFC, the 39-year-old Londoner admitted he was wrestling with an invisible obstacle every time he made the walk. Despite repeatedly getting his hand raised against top-tier competition, Page revealed he was fighting through a mental block, fixating on trying to replicate his past self rather than staying present in the moment.
“It's just a shame that I haven't been able to really showcase my best, and yet I'm still beating fighters that are at the top of their game,” Page said. “I realized I was carrying a weight, and I shouldn’t be. It became a case of figuring out how not to fixate on performing the way that I used to and just enjoy the performance.”
Page noted that even when he felt physically ready during training camp, an internal blockage stopped him from fully unleashing his flashy striking repertoire inside the cage. Still, his raw natural talent and timing kept him winning, pushing his professional MMA record to 26-3.
Now entering free agency following his exit from the UFC, the London Shootfighters veteran isn't looking back with regret. Page is focused on clearing his mind and rediscovering the pure joy that made him one of the most entertaining strikers in combat sports. If he can break through that lingering mental barrier, his next landing spot is going to witness a vintage MVP performance.
