Robert Whittaker Admits MVP’s Point-Fighting Style Is “Hard to Sit Through Live”

Former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker recently voiced what plenty of fight fans have been thinking when watching Michael "Venom" Page compete inside the Octagon. While nobody can deny the London native's generational striking talent and elusive movement, his calculating point-fighting approach makes it a real challenge for fans to stay glued to the screen when watching him live.

Whittaker opened up on the British fighter's unique style, admitting that tuning into Page's bouts in real time can be a drag compared to catching the highlight reel later on.

"I find it so hard to tune in live to MVP winning via points rather than watching it afterwards," Whittaker shared. "I reckon there isn’t a single person who can beat MVP at point sparring. He’s so good at it. It’s almost like he has a live feed of the judges’ scorecards in real time. As soon as it starts to drop, he just does a little bit more and goes up."

The Precision Paradox

That assessment hit the nail on the head following Page's latest outing at UFC Fight Night in Paris against Nursulton Ruziboev. Over three full rounds, the 39-year-old kickboxer methodically out-pointed his opponent to secure a unanimous decision victory.

According to official UFC stats, Page landed just 12 significant strikes out of 28 attempted during the entire 15-minute contest. Despite the low volume, he earned identical scorecards across the board. It marked his fifth victory inside the Octagon, pushing his professional MMA record to 26-3. Yet, all six of his UFC appearances have gone straight to the judges' scorecards, a stark contrast to the explosive finisher fans grew accustomed to during his legendary run in Bellator.

Even Page admitted after the Paris fight that he felt frustrated with his performance, confessing that his desire to stay clean and precise stops him from taking the risks necessary to deliver knockout finishes. With his current UFC contract now fulfilled, Page finds himself at a crucial career crossroads. MMA fans and pundits are actively speculating whether he will venture into the crossover boxing side of things or go back to the PFL now that his contract with the UFC is over.  

Whittaker's candid breakdown highlights the core dilemma of Page’s style. On one hand, his distance control makes him virtually untouchable in a point-sparring system. On the other hand, fight fans tuning in on Saturday night want raw intensity. Whether Page re-signs with the PFL or moves elsewhere, the conversation surrounding his tactical, low-volume approach won't be ending anytime soon.