Joe Rogan Rips UFC Matchmakers After 'Venom' Page Fight Falls Flat in London

LONDON — What was supposed to be a showcase moment turned into one of the most criticized fights of 2026. Michael “Venom” Page’s decision win over Sam Patterson at UFC London didn’t just disappoint fans it drew rare, blunt criticism from longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan, who placed the blame squarely on the promotion’s matchmaking.

For 15 uneventful minutes, Page and Patterson fighters with prior familiarity combined to land just 39 significant strikes, producing a bout widely labeled as one of the worst of the year.

The lack of engagement was noticeable immediately, but as the fight dragged on, frustration grew both inside the arena and among viewers. Rogan, watching during his Fight Companion broadcast, didn’t hold back. “This might be the least action of any fight ever, next to Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou,” Rogan said. “…This is crazy bad.”

Matchmaking Under Fire

Rather than targeting the fighters, Rogan directed his criticism at the UFC’s decision-makers. “It’s interesting that they didn’t think of this when they booked this fight,” Rogan said. “These guys are training partners this might be a stinker. ”While Page and Patterson are not full-time teammates, their shared training history played a major role in how the fight unfolded. Familiarity bred hesitation. Instead of risks, both fighters leaned into caution neutralizing each other’s offense and creating a stylistic stalemate.

Joe Rogan also suggested a deeper issue: finding willing opponents for Michael Page. “Maybe you can’t get anybody to fight Venom Page in London,” Rogan said. “A bunch of dudes might have said no, and Patterson was like, ‘Let’s go.’”

Page’s unorthodox style built on distance, timing, and counterstriking has long made him a difficult puzzle. But against someone familiar with that style, the danger flips. Instead of being surprised, Patterson appeared comfortable and content to avoid unnecessary risks.