Ahead of his upcoming bout at UFC London, Michael “Venom” Page lauded Khamzat Chimaev’s exceptional performance in the gym. Page also openly questioned the current order for the middleweight title shot, which sees Sean Strickland booked to challenge the champion later this year.
Michael Venom Page Returns to UFC London
Michael Page is scheduled to face fellow Englishman Sam Patterson in a welterweight contest at the O2 Arena on March 21 as part of UFC London. The 38-year-old former Bellator standout, who joined the UFC in 2024, currently holds a spot in the top 15 of the welterweight division. This matchup follows Patterson’s impressive series of stoppage victories since his challenging UFC debut in 2023.
Page and Khamzat Chimaev’s Training Connection
In 2024, Page spent time training alongside Khamzat Chimaev in Dubai, as both fighters prepared for significant UFC events. This training period sparked considerable discussion among fighters and fans. Page previously addressed rumors, notably a claim by Irish contender Ian Garry’s teammate Caolan Loughran, that he had “battered” Chimaev in sparring. Page clarified that the confusion arose because his teammate, Norbert Novényi Jr., was the one who engaged in those intense sparring rounds with Chimaev.
Page detailed his experience from that camp, emphasizing Chimaev’s relentless wrestling intensity on the mat and his unique approach to prolonged sessions, where he cycles through numerous fresh partners. Page noted how the Chechen-born champion often pushes through an entire room of training partners without any visible decrease in his output or intensity.
Reflecting on this experience in the lead-up to UFC London, Page stated he “had the pleasure of seeing Khamzat in the gym, working very closely with him,” describing him as “a monster” and “not normal” after witnessing his handling of live rounds. He underscored that this perspective comes from firsthand, elite-level training, highlighting the difficulty of truly appreciating Chimaev’s pace, continuous wrestling, and ability to control positions until one has actually shared the mats with him.
“I don’t even think that fight should exist right now. I feel like Imavov deserved the fight, and that’s the fight we should be talking about. But I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Khamzat in the gym, working very closely with him. That guy’s a monster. He’s not normal. Seeing him up close and personal, it was beautiful. He’s going to be a tough person to beat.”
Chimaev’s Middleweight Title Defense Against Strickland
Khamzat Chimaev is set to defend his UFC middleweight title against former champion Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9 in Newark. This will be Chimaev’s first title defense since securing the belt last August. The booking of this fight came after the promotion considered both Strickland and the rising contender Nassourdine Imavov, who has built a strong record but also has a previous loss to Strickland from their January 2023 main event clash.
Page firmly expressed his belief that Imavov should have been next in line for the title shot, stating, “I feel like Imavov deserved the fight.” However, he also backed Chimaev, asserting that he would be “a tough person to beat,” based on his observations during their training sessions. From Page’s perspective, while the middleweight division sees contenders like Imavov rapidly ascending, Chimaev’s performance in the gym suggests the champion remains an exceptionally daunting challenge for anyone competing at 185 pounds.
