MMA star Michael Venom Page has told England rugby hero James Haskell to ignore “ignorant and jealous” fighters as he makes his highly-publicised switch to combat sports.
Former England rugby flanker Haskell will trade the scrum cap for 4oz fight gloves having signed for American fight promotion Bellator.
The MMA organisation made headlines last year after signing former Geordie Shore star turned fighter Aaron Chalmers.
Chalmers, 32, who in February headlined Bellator Newcastle at 4-0, was sent death threats online by trolls and attacked by fellow fighters after jumping the queue as a main-eventer.
And MVP – a freelancer of combat sports having competed in kickboxing, MMA and boxing – has twice gone from the top of his sport to beginner after swapping fight codes.
And he says envious fighters must "appreciate" why he, Haskell and Chalmers were met with so much attention when they moved into new careers.
Page, 32, told SunSport: “I find it weird when other guys see people join elite sports, like Aaron Chalmers after he came to MMA from Geordie Shore, he had a lot of eyes from what he was doing before and brought it across.
“Loads of guys from MMA came from different places like mechanics, electricians, they had different backgrounds before fighting, but people didn’t know that.
“Because we know where Aaron and James are coming from people question whether they can do it – yet we’ve seen multiple people come from different careers and be successful.
“Take it for that, it’s someone coming from one job into MMA, like many people do.
“You have ignorant and jealous fighters that are doing the sport and would love to get as much attention as that, so they’re upset that someone who has never done it gets that attention.
“But you have to appreciate that he’s done something well enough in his area to justify having those eyeballs.”
Page will pass his fighting knowledge on to Haskell ahead of his 2020 Bellator debut, as they become training partners at the London Shootfighters gym.
But MVP will also share his experience of going from elite competitor to beginner to the England rugby hero.
When the maverick signed with ex-heavyweight world champion turned boxing promoter David Haye in 2017, his then unbeaten MMA record was disregarded.
MVP said: “He’s got a very good mentality towards this change, the same with myself, he has no real expectations of success.
“I always say when you begin an MMA match you throw punches, you have to box, and I was boxing and training with boxers when preparing for MMA fights, and I still do now.
“So, I had experience of knowing how to box but in terms of respect, and going from top to bottom of your sport for me it’s down to mentality.
“He doesn’t expect anything of himself, he doesn’t care for what people expect of him and that’s how I felt whenever I transitioned sports.”
The former Northampton and Wasps forward, 34, who played 77 times for England, retired in May after a 17-year career.
And following a decade training in martial arts, Haskell commentated on a handful of UK bouts for BAMMA.
Having watched Haskell eagerly mix it with MMA fighters in his off season, Page has no doubt the “amateur” novice can use his experience of international competition to understand the challenge ahead.
He added: “He says, ‘I am not a fighter, I’m just hoping to join a team I trust in and they can turn me into a fighter good enough to fight in Bellator.’
“He’s very honest and open about it and I feel that’s the best way to be.
“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, ignore the comments about people saying ‘How good is he going to be, you’re wrong for doing it’.
“All the talk, that’s people projecting their own fears if they were in your situation.
“Even when he was playing rugby in his off season we’d always see him in the gym, on the pads, boxing – he’s always been a fight fan and enough for him to step over.
“I’d say he’s a very good amateur at the moment – but that’s the thing, he’s an amateur, he’s got a lot to learn but his mentality will allow him to learn very quickly.
“He understands high level competition, and it’s allowing your mind to transfer that to MMA.”
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Tickets for Bellator Dublin are on sale now through Ticketmaster.ie and Bellator.com, as well as the 3Arena box office.
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