Robert Whittaker admits he ‘didn't even want to watch’ Michael Page

Robert Whittaker has acknowledged that Michael Page's fighting style—marked by precision point-scoring and defensive evasion—makes for difficult viewing despite the Englishman's technical excellence. Page secured a unanimous decision victory over Nursulton Ruziboev in a middleweight bout at UFC Paris in the final fight of his current contract, but was subsequently removed from the rankings as he enters free agency.

During an appearance on the MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker praised Page's rare athleticism and fluid movement while admitting he struggles to watch his fights live. "I have nothing but respect for MVP," Whittaker said. "His ability to do what he does at his age is crazy. It's like he's dancing in there. He's so fast and fluid." The former UFC champion believes Page is arguably the UFC's premier point-fighter, with an almost uncanny sense of what judges are scoring in real time.

"I reckon there isn't a single person that can beat MVP over point-sparring in the UFC," Whittaker explained. "It's almost like he has a live feed of the judges' scorecards. As soon as it starts to drop, he just does a little bit more and it goes back up. He just does enough." Whittaker acknowledges the strategic soundness of Page's approach—the risks of engaging more aggressively could leave him vulnerable to being stopped—yet that same caution makes him a puzzle for opponents and an underwhelming spectacle for fans. "He definitely is a puzzle for a lot of fighters," Whittaker concluded. "He's not fun to fight for anyone."