Michael “Venom” Page, as he gears up for his anticipated appearance at UFC London, has offered compelling insights into his training experiences with middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev. Page candidly described Chimaev as a “monster” and “not normal” after their intense sessions. Concurrently, Page voiced his reservations about the decision to grant Sean Strickland a title shot, expressing his belief that Nassourdine Imavov was more deserving of the opportunity.
Page is scheduled to face fellow Englishman Sam Patterson in a welterweight bout at UFC London, taking place on March 21 at the iconic O2 Arena. A former prominent figure in Bellator, Page signed with the UFC in 2024 and currently holds a top-15 ranking in the welterweight division.
In 2024, Page and Khamzat Chimaev trained together in Dubai, both preparing for crucial UFC engagements. This period sparked various rumors, notably with Irish contender Ian Garry claiming that Page had “battered” Chimaev during sparring. However, Page promptly debunked these claims, clarifying that the confusion stemmed from his teammate, Norbert Novényi Jr., being the one who sparred with Chimaev in those specific rounds.
Recounting his time in the joint training camp, Page highlighted Chimaev’s extraordinary wrestling intensity on the mats and his unique approach to prolonged sessions, where he continuously cycles through fresh training partners without any noticeable dip in his performance. Page shared, “I had the pleasure of seeing Khamzat in the gym, working very closely with him.” He further elaborated that Chimaev is “a monster,” “not normal,” and “he’s going to be a tough person to beat.” Page emphasized that it is only after experiencing Chimaev’s pace, chain wrestling, and masterful control of positions firsthand that one can truly grasp his exceptional capabilities.
Addressing the highly anticipated middleweight title picture, Chimaev is set to defend his championship against former titleholder Sean Strickland at UFC 328. Page firmly asserted his opinion that Nassourdine Imavov should have been next in line for the title challenge. “I feel like Imavov deserved the fight, and that’s the fight we should be talking about,” Page stated. Nevertheless, drawing from his personal training experience, Page remains confident that Chimaev will prove to be a formidable and challenging opponent for anyone in the 185-pound division.