Michael “Venom” Page is stepping into a powerful new era. As he prepares for his UFC return against Sam Patterson on Saturday, March 21st, I sat down with him to talk mindset, legacy and life beyond the Octagon. Dressed effortlessly in rich brown tones, he exudes a quiet confidence. Calm, charismatic and completely unapologetic in who he is.
“I’m more dangerous when I’m relaxed,” he tells me with a smile. For Page, it isn’t anger that sharpens him, it’s joy. He performs at his best when he’s at ease, fully present and enjoying the moment. That composure, that almost playful energy, is precisely what makes him so lethal.
Martial arts, he explains, was never really a choice, it was a birthright. With both parents rooted in the discipline, fighting has always been synonymous with family. From early training sessions as a child to what he now calls “uncle boot camp,” where his nieces and nephews fly out to train alongside him, the sport is woven into his family dynamic. Listening to him speak, it’s clear that legacy isn’t just a word; it’s a responsibility. The way he carries himself, the way he competes, even the way he leads the next generation all trace back to that foundation.
Outside of fighting, Page is building far beyond the cage. From opening IXCHEL on King’s Road with expansion plans already set for Dubai, to his love for Caribbean home cooking and London’s rich food culture, his ambitions stretch into business and lifestyle. Fashion, too, is intentional. He credits his father for instilling a mindset he still lives by: “You’re representing something when you go somewhere.” It’s advice that clearly stuck. Whether he’s stepping into an arena or expanding his ventures beyond the cage, Page understands presence. As he returns to the UFC spotlight, he isn’t just fighting for a win — he’s representing family, culture and everything that shaped him.
First, I’d like to thank you for your time. How’s your morning going?
Yeah, I guess it’s just beginning. I got up and had a couple of interviews.
Where does the name ‘Venom’ come from?
Weirdly enough, I just bumped into an old school friend of mine at the last interview. He was the person who nicknamed me “Venom.” I was probably about nine years old. We used to train together he’s like an older brother to me. He came up with it when he saw this little skinny kid who had a little bit more power than you would have expected just by looking at me.
He kept saying, “Oh, you’ve got some venom in your punches, venom in your kicks,” and he just kept calling me Venom, and it stuck.
You’ll be making your UFC return against Sam Patterson on March 21st. What is your mindset going into this fight?
Just to enjoy the occasion, enjoy the moment. I feed off enjoyment. Some people need angry energy I’m the opposite. You’ll see me smiling, dancing, having a good time.
I find I’m way more dangerous in this game when I’m at my most relaxed. So for me, it’s about enjoying the occasion, going out there, enjoying myself, and the results will come.
Where did your love for fighting first start?
I don’t think I had a choice. Both of my parents did martial arts it’s just a family thing. As soon as we could walk, we were doing martial arts.
It’s always been a big part of my life, and because it’s such a family-oriented thing, that’s definitely where my heart is. I love family, and martial arts always reminds me of family time, so that’s where the love will always remain.
And I guess that makes you connect with each other?
Oh, all the time. Even the next generation — all my nieces and nephews — they’re competing and travelling now. We started this thing because they’re old enough.
Sometimes they’ll fly over. They did it last year. It gives my siblings a break as well — I’ll say, “Send the kids over,” and they’ll come and do boot camp.
That must be very fun.
Yeah, they do “uncle boot camp.” They come and train alongside me in the gym and they love it.
Being from London, how does the crowd energy hit differently compared to anywhere else?
It varies. I definitely feel the love from the UK, UK crowds have high energy. But I’ve also been to places where I’ve received just as much respect and appreciation.
Even the other day in Chicago, I was pleasantly surprised and felt blessed by the way the audience received me. That was very nice. It’s always special fighting at home in the UK, of course, but I have to say I’ve been received well in many areas around the world.
Would you say London is your favourite?
I wouldn’t say London is my favourite.
One of the most unique places I’ve fought and what made it magical, was Japan. The crowd is packed, but it’s silent.
Really.
Yeah. But then when you do something a jump spin kick, for example, it erupts for a second and then immediately goes silent again. It feels like every move is a gift. It’s such a unique place to fight. I really enjoyed it.
Your movement in the ring is very unique. How much of that comes from dance, like salsa or Afrobeats?
I’d say it doesn’t, really.
My style is influenced by many things, but it originally comes from freestyle kickboxing. A lot of people don’t know what freestyle kickboxing is, especially within MMA. Very few people from freestyle kickboxing have transitioned into MMA, which is why my style looks so unique.
But where I come from, there are thousands of people doing it. Now there’s a show called Total Kombat that really represents it well — it’s the closest thing to what I grew up doing. It’s going to be on ITVX, and I tell people to watch that if they want to see exactly where I came from.
What made you switch from kickboxing?
I was achieving a lot of success, but it started to feel repetitive, the same competitions every year, the same people every year.
I wanted more. It wasn’t big enough to make a proper living from. When you’re younger, you rely on your parents, so it’s easier. But as you get older, you’ve got bills to pay. It becomes more of a social thing rather than something you can take seriously as a career.
I loved it so much that I wanted to find a way to keep doing what I enjoyed while earning a living. At the time, that meant running gyms — which we did. Eventually, I got to a place where I could step away a bit and fully pursue MMA.
Kickboxing only goes so far. Once I felt like I reached the top and wasn’t getting real rewards from it, I had to find another path.
How do you mentally stay focused when preparing for a fight?
Music is a big one for me. If I’m too hyped, I’ll listen to slower music to calm down. If I’m too relaxed, I’ll listen to something fast-paced and high-energy.
Music helps put me exactly where I need to be mentally. Outside of that, I know I’ve put the hard work in beforehand, so I’m confident in what I need to do. But music is a big motivator for me.
Do you have any pre-fight rituals?
No, and I actually like that I don’t.
If you rely on rituals, it can be hard when you’re in different countries, different arenas, different setups. You can’t always recreate that perfect environment.
My ritual has been chaos and that’s a good thing. It means wherever I go, I’m ready. There’s always craziness happening around you before a fight, so learning to find your calm within chaos is important. I don’t want to depend on anything specific.
Congratulations on opening your restaurant, IXCHEL. What inspired you?
Thank you. It was an investment opportunity, but I had actually opened a restaurant before, the first Caribbean restaurant in 40 years on the main stretch of Portobello Road. It came with its challenges, and I learned a lot from it. Even though I stepped away, it gave me the bug to do it again.
Then the opportunity for IXCHEL came up on King’s Road. The team was strong, business-minded and it’s grown from there. We’re even opening a location in Dubai, so it’s becoming a chain across different countries.
London is such a vibrant food city. What’s your go-to meal after a hard training day?
Home food. Caribbean food.
When I’m in North West London, there are loads of Caribbean spots near me. Or I’ll just go home and ask my mum, “Can you cook something up?”
Mum’s food is always the best.
Any hidden gems?
There are loads. One that was almost a ritual for me is Charcoal Grill — a Lebanese grill spot in Willesden. I’ve been going there since I was about 16. It’s been around a long time and just keeps getting better. The food is always consistent.
But honestly, anyone who says London doesn’t have good food doesn’t know what they’re talking about. You can find almost any cuisine at the highest level here.
Fashion seems important to you. Is that intentional?
Yeah, I’ll blame my dad for that — in a good way. He always told me, “You’re representing something when you go somewhere.”
The first thing people see is how you dress, how you carry yourself. That stayed with me from when I was a kid.
At competitions, the kids would fight first and then run around while the adults were competing. My dad would stop me and say, “No. Sit with the adults. Learn. And remember, even when I’m not there, you’re representing me and your team.”
That stuck with me. How you carry yourself sends a message.
What’s your approach to putting together an outfit?
It depends on how I feel that day. I don’t like to pin myself down to one look, but generally something clean, smart-casual.
Now I have a wife who will tell me no if something doesn’t work.
Haha so she can help you!
She won’t help me, she’ll tell me! Haha.
What’s your current go-to accessory?
A nice watch. I’m getting more into watches.
I like glasses too — they used to be my walkout thing. Every fight I’d wear cool shades. I might bring that back.
I’ve never been too flashy in terms of jewellery. It might look showy because of my style, but aesthetically, I prefer subtle things. Something where, if you know, you know. Unique trainers, a nice watch, nothing too in-your-face.
Finally, what’s on your playlist right now?
Everything.
I’m not even joking, I’ve got 80s music, Amapiano, house, revival, reggae, I’m all over the place.
Music can push and pull your energy. It can control how you feel and put you exactly where you need to be.
If I had to narrow it down, I’d say 80s, Amapiano, reggae and bashment, especially because that’s home for me. I was raised on Jamaican music.
Thank you for your time and best of luck in your upcoming fight. Tickets are on sale for UFC FIGHT NIGHT: EVLOEV vs MURPHY via AXS
