Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Sees Some of Himself in Conor McGregor

You can count professional-wrestler-turned-A-list-actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson among fans of the UFC's breakout featherweight star, Ireland native Conor McGregor. Speaking with Ireland's Entertainment.ie during his media rounds for the film San Andreas, Johnson said he sees a bit of himself in the trash-talking striker.

"I love that guy," he said in discussing McGregor's matchup against Jose Aldo at UFC 189. "I love Aldo too. ... So Aldo, there's a quiet confidence, and in Conor the confidence is not quiet, and it reminds me of how I was in the WWE. I was bold and talking s--t, and there is nothing that I wouldn't say."

A year ago, McGregor became one of the UFC's top stars when the organization tapped him to headline a card in his hometown of Dublin opposite Cole Miller (later replaced by Diego Brandao). The event's success had fans around the world instantly buzzing over the fighter, who was quickly anointed one of the most exciting potential opponents for Aldo, the long-reigning featherweight champion.

Aldo is undefeated since 2005 and has had little difficulty maintaining that streak. He captured the WEC featherweight belt in 2009 (which would become the undisputed UFC featherweight title in 2010) and has defended his crown nine times, most recently against Chad Mendes at UFC 179.

Johnson, of course, is best known by sports fans for his career in WWE, where he won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship eight times and had history-making rivalries with Steve Austin and Triple H. He has been a fairly regular sight for MMA fans, however, as he appears at events, discusses fights on social media and occasionally stars in movies alongside women's MMA pioneers.

McGregor is, of course, poised to face Aldo in July at UFC 189, and Johnson is excited for the fight. "I think the fight is going to be incredible," he said, adding, "At times I feel like I have seen, we've all seen that by the way, Conor getting under Aldo's skin, it becomes an edge."

Aldo vs. McGregor is one of the biggest rivalries in recent UFC history and has shined a new light on the featherweight division that wasn't there 18 months ago. The fight will headline the UFC's 2015 International Fight Week card alongside the welterweight title bout between Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald.