Move over, Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Leading up to a title showdown July 11 at UFC 189, top UFC featherweight contender Conor McGregor is gaining praise from another action star.
We’re still not sure if featherweight champion Jose Aldo will be well enough to defend the belt, or if Chad Mendes will step in, but Arnold Schwarzenegger is betting on McGregor, regardless.
“Conor is one of the greatest athletes probably of all times,” Schwarzenegger told JOE.ie while promoting his upcoming Terminator sequel.
“He has the right combination of the mind, the body and the talent. The two are connected so well with him, which I think is so important in athletics that you believe, 100 percent, in your victory. See it, believe it, achieve it. That’s the way it goes. He’s a great athlete.”
Schwarzenegger says McGregor’s bravado reminds him of his former self, along with parlaying a successful athletic career into acting.
“He’s also a fun guy to hang out with and he’s very good at improvisation. He reminds me a little bit of the way I always was when I grew up in bodybuilding. The only way you get noticed is if you say outrageous things. He does that to get noticed and because of that, because he’s a great fighter and because of his personality, he now is becoming the hottest ticket.
“His fight will be sold out everywhere and will have the highest viewership.”
Formerly the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, Schwarzenegger says he’d love to see McGregor join him in Tinseltown.
“I hope so,” Schwarzenegger said of McGregor possibly starring in films. “I think any athlete should always think about beyond their athletic career. The athletic career only goes so far. You can sometimes push it into the thirties or maybe get close to forty.
“From then on, it should really start switching, even if it’s within your own sport. If he wants to become a promoter, an actor, commentator, politician or running a famous charity. I think it’s great to branch out.”
McGregor fights July 11 in the main event at UFC 189 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Big day. UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will train Tuesday to decide if he can fight Conor McGregor at UFC 189.
Update. Bernalillo County (N.M.) district attorney Kari Bradenburg “anticipates” bringing former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones‘ felony hit-and-run case to a grand jury, but is still awaiting key evidence before making it official.
Sorry, Stipe. UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum plans rematch tour with Andrei Arlovski, Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez.
‘He has only a one-fight win streak. I have a four-fight win streak.’ Frankie Edgar is ‘surprised’ and ‘annoyed’ to be passed over in favor of Chad Mendes at UFC 189.
Fortunes changed for five. Dave Meltzer explains how Yoel Romero, Lyoto Machida, Lorenz Larkin, Thiago Santos and Hacran Dias move forward following UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero.
Watch The MMA Hour with Joanna Jedrzejczyk in studio, BJ Penn, Frankie Edgar, Chad Mendes, John Kavanagh, Marc Ratner, Jonas Bilharinho, Graham Boylan.
MEDIA STEW
Conor McGregor running around ESPN.
Chael Sonnen calls McGregor to talk Aldo.
Episode 6 of Mike Swick’s vlog for UFC 189.
Dana White discusses his new reality show, refuses to dance on camera.
Highlights from Legacy 42.
Felice Herrig on American Ninja Warrior.
Long watches.
Knuckle Up #359: the Romero Back Pedal
…
Chael Sonnen Loves Donald Trump, Mocks Heavyweight Division
…
Roxanne Modaferri on Training, The Ultimate Fighter, and the Evolution of MMA
…
TWEETS
I’d watch.
Oq vcs acham de uma superfight eu x o @JonnyBones ? what you guys think about a super fight me vs @JonnyBones? Let’s bring him back?
— Fabricio Werdum (@FabricioWerdum) June 29, 2015
[TODAY TODAY TODAY]
TOMORROW TOMORROW TOMORROW!!! #UFCFIGHTKIT #UFC #REEBOK pic.twitter.com/6Fv0WOTfvb
— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) June 30, 2015
Flexible.
“@JDWilliamsii: if you get a title shot and win. Would you be willing to fight all over the world or stay exclusively in U.S.?” ,ANYWHERE
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) June 30, 2015
“@frankthetank523: @Cowboycerrone Do you see yourself fighting @ 170lbs in future?” ANYONE
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) June 30, 2015
Vote on.
Voting for the #ESPYS is still open! I’m up for Fighter of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year, and… https://t.co/1ahGaotmc2
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) June 29, 2015
“@gunds_up: @Cowboycerrone what percent chance you give yourself on winning the espy?” Well I’d sure like so think 100%
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) June 29, 2015
Check it out.
Hector Lombard tapped to a rear-naked choke in a grappling match Saturday https://t.co/lQ958cSK0T
— Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) June 29, 2015
Get well soon.
@mOsT_eViL_oNe @matthughes9x if I shoot Matt’s balls I will be hitting you Hahahahaha nut hugger lol 😉
— Renzo_Gracie_BJJ (@RenzoGracieBJJ) June 30, 2015
Just fight.
@CRUSHER_MMA @shafi @ufc It’s on then let’s do #war
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) June 30, 2015
Sweet hat.
Thanks to @JCVD and his crew for showing me around Bangkok city! pic.twitter.com/ypZysClJXN
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) June 29, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (June 29 2015)
Erik Koch out, Andrew Holbrook vs. Ramsey Nijem at UFC on FOX 16
Konstantin Erokhin out, Chris de la Rocha vs. Daniel Omielanczuk at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.