Fansided MMA
FanSided

25 biggest celebrity MMA fans: The Rock, Snoop Dogg, Madonna and more

By Amy Kaplan

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 23: (L-R) Daniel Cormier, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chris Weidman pose for a portrait during the UFC 187 event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 23, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 23: (L-R) Daniel Cormier, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chris Weidman pose for a portrait during the UFC 187 event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 23, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 23: (L-R) Daniel Cormier, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chris Weidman pose for a portrait during the UFC 187 event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 23, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 23: (L-R) Daniel Cormier, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chris Weidman pose for a portrait during the UFC 187 event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 23, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) /

14. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Actor, bodybuilder and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the biggest UFC fans and it’s kind of adorable. You wouldn’t imagine the Terminator to get excited about men (and women) fighting, but his fandom is so out there that it kind makes us swoon.

Schwarzenegger has been attending live shows for years and has formed friendships with quite a few fighters — like UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He was even featured in the Conor McGregor movie!

He’s not just spotted cage side, he’s often photographed in the backstage locker rooms giving last minute pep talks to fighters or congratulating those who have won. He’s an outspoken fan of McGregor’s who he’s called the greatest fighter of all time.

McGregor’s coach Owen Roddy even told a hilarious story about the day that McGregor met the famous actor and an embarrassing event that followed:

"It was insane. I had met him the night before when Conor won (the Mendes fight). I don’t like annoying people for selfies, but it was Arnold Schwarzenegger! I walked straight past everybody he was talking to and asked could I get a picture. He said, ‘yeah, of course, of course!’ I took the picture and it was blurry! I walked off devastated, thinking I’d lost my shot. And then [later] Conor’s like, ‘Arnold’s coming over just to say hi’. He walks in the door and he’s very nice, real cool, real down to earth. He’s telling us all stories about weightlifting and all sorts and everyone is just eating the words out of his mouth. It was unbelievable. But he went to use the toilet – and there was no toilet roll. It was a bleedin’ disaster! He walks in to the toilet and we’re all like, (whispering) ‘Fuck! There’s no toilet roll! What are we gonna do?’ Everybody just looks at each other panicking. It was surreal. It was unbelievable to meet him. Such a legend, such an icon."

Schwarzenegger is such a staple to the sport that he even has his own character in the EA Sports UFC game.

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