Longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan touted one UFC 319 undercard fighter as the toughest fighter to prepare for.
UFC 319 is just days away as one of the biggest cards of 2025 features a pivotal headliner between middleweight titleholder Dricus du Plessis and the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev. In addition to Du Plessis vs. Chimaev, the card features plenty of intriguing matchups, including a welterweight clash between rising contenders Carlos Prates and Geoff Neal.
Several veteran stars are looking to make statements on the UFC 319 undercard before Du Plessis and Chimaev enter the Octagon. The UFC’s long-awaited return to Chicago is expected to deliver plenty of highlight-reel moments on fight night.
But Joe Rogan has his eyes on one specific undercard fighter with a ridiculous resume of violent knockouts.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLCJoe Rogan lauds UFC 319 undercard fighter as sport’s ‘biggest puzzle’
During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan showered Michael ‘Venom’ Page with high praise ahead of UFC 319.
“And then you have Michael ‘Venom’ Page, who is the biggest puzzle in the entire sport,” Rogan said of Page.
“That guy, good luck training for that guy! Just good luck. Super tall welterweight who moves like nobody. World point-fighting champion, that is a totally different thing that point-fighting thing. Super creative, and he also knows how to wrestle now, knows Jiu-Jitsu now, so now he’s a Mixed Martial Arts fighter and has this one skill set that is crazy unique.
“Kevin Holland was like ‘Where the f— is he? I can’t find him!’. It’s the difference between someone who is standing in front of people and knocking sticks, and an elite fencer.”
Page began his UFC middleweight tenure by defeating Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov at UFC Saudi Arabia earlier this year. Page’s welterweight stint was cut short due to alleged ‘politics’ in the division.
Before Page signed with the UFC in 2024, he was regarded as one of the greatest fighters in Bellator history. Page once crushed one of his opponent’s skulls with a vicious knockout that went viral on social media.
Michael ‘Venom’ Page could enter middleweight title picture with a win at UFC 319
Despite Page’s frustration with the top welterweights, his decision to move to middleweight has paid big dividends. Page will face former UFC title challenger Jared Cannonier at UFC 319 this Saturday in Chicago.
A win over a proven middleweight like Cannonier would potentially set Page up for a title eliminator bout. It’s an exciting time in the middleweight division ahead of UFC 319, especially after Anthony Hernandez’s dominant performance at UFC Vegas 109 last weekend.
Hernandez will be cageside for UFC 319 this weekend, as he plots a potential title shot against the Du Plessis vs. Chimaev winner. But a matchup with Page could make sense if the UFC matchmakers believe Hernandez still has work to do before earning a shot at the belt.
Page will look to establish himself as a legitimate middleweight contender at UFC 319. Rogan will be keeping a keen eye on how his fight with Cannonier transpires.