Morning Report: Joe Rogan says Chad Mendes 'easily could be as big a star as Conor McGregor,' should be favored to win at UFC 189

Apparently, Chad Mendes is a bit of an underdog to beat Conor McGregor this Saturday at UFC 189 in Las Vegas.

Luckily for UFC commentator Joe Rogan, he'll be near a casino.

"I think Chad Mendes should be the favorite," Rogan said Thursday afternoon on his podcast. "Chad Mendes knocked Ricardo Lamas, dead. Dead. With one punch. He smashes dudes. He goes after guys. He's a destroyer."

Joining in the conversation, UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub balked at the move to have promotional golden boy McGregor possibly derailed by Mendes prior to a showdown with featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

"See, I disagree," said Rogan. "Mendes easily could be as big a star as Conor McGregor. He wouldn't talk like Conor McGregor did, but neither did [former UFC welterweight champion] Georges St-Pierre. Georges St-Pierre was the biggest pay-per-view star of all time. Because he was a gentleman. Georges St-Pierre got a million pay-per-view buys."

17-2 as a pro, Mendes' only losses came at the hands of Aldo. Rogan says the 2014 'Fight of the Year' rematch between 'Money' and Aldo at UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro could have gone either way.

"The last fight was razor close," said Rogan. "There's an argument that could be made that if they fought in America [Mendes] would have won that decision. There's also an argument to be made that if Jose Aldo didn't land that late punch after the first round that knocked Mendes down and had him very hurt, it could have been a very different fight.

"Let me tell you something, if he goes out and starches Conor, he's a giant."

Mendes faces McGregor for the interim featherweight title July 11 in the main event at UFC 189 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

5 MUST-READ STORIES

'Little coward. Trying to be friendly.' Conor McGregor and Chad Mendes trade barbs in intense UFC 189 press conference.

'Travis is innocent.' Travis Browne's manager denies allegations that Browne abused his wife. 'I think we have to look at the credibility of the behavior.'

Co-main. Marc Raimondi explains how welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald are basking in the lack of limelight at UFC 189.

'I think he should stay at 155.' Matt Brown says he's happy Nate Diaz didn't agree to fight him at UFC 189.

Diamond. Dustin Poirier says he's interested in fighting in Dublin and gives advice to Mendes before he fights McGregor this weekend.

MEDIA STEW

UFC 189 embedded episode 8.

Highlights from the UFC 189 press conference.

Johny Hendricks only down to fight Tyron Woodley for the UFC welterweight title.

BJJ Scout previews McGregor vs. Mendes, Lawler vs. MacDonald and Nelson vs. Thatch.

Dana White explaining why UFC isn't worried about throwing McGregor to Chad Mendes.

EA SPORTS UFC Simulation - Mendes vs. McGregor.

Long watches.

UFC 189 press conference video

...

Mike Swick: The Comeback - Ep #7: We Are AKA - Road To UFC 189

...

TWEETS

Not a fan of this look.

Mr. Multi. https://t.co/iok4WdzZiY pic.twitter.com/MRP5qw3h3l

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 10, 2015

Buds.

My guy rumble https://t.co/rRbH0MvxxM

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 10, 2015

@ufc eat your heart out! @JohnyHendricks pic.twitter.com/mull52bajO

— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) July 9, 2015

Browne, I assume.

If it's true, then I'll do the fight for free, vale tudo, and no ref.....

— Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) July 9, 2015

Congrats.

Exited to officially announce my partnership with @Reebok! Look forward to great things to come and bringing the @UFC belt back to Canada!

— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) July 9, 2015

Very nice.

Wow @ChrisWeidmanUFC just raised $16k and @TimKennedyMMA $45k for @HireHeroesUSA by training people in MMA and marksmanship respectively

— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) July 10, 2015

Super fun time bowling at the Charity Bowling event!!! :) I smoked @UrijahFaber pic.twitter.com/xZQzUUlY5N

— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) July 10, 2015

Beef.

I will smash sholler https://t.co/fqPDBJOgOk

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 9, 2015

Dear @Sholler_UFC remember when we where boys??

— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) July 6, 2015

Cyborg, still horrifying.

And Cyborg wins in 45 sec. Not surprised, but happy for her nonetheless #AndStill #invictafc13

— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 10, 2015

Congrats and Happy Birthday to @CrisCyborg getting the :45 1st rd KO. You are the baddest women on the planet. @InvictaFights @Punishment99

— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) July 10, 2015

I would easily pay $100 for a PPV with Rousey vs. Cyborg headlining.

— Cathal Pendred (@Pendred) July 10, 2015

This Week in Struggle.

@mmamania what do u know about rapping. I killed that.

— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) July 8, 2015

Just spent 20min sticking my key card in doors trying to find my room. I was on the wrong floor, by 15 floors. Lol every time

— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) July 9, 2015

I hate when I burp and throw up almost comes up with it lol #randomfact

— Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) July 9, 2015

So.... I did want a motorcycle before I saw the guy on his bike get his back tire clipped and swerved into on coming traffic. #nvm

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) July 7, 2015

Dealing with complete morons on the daily✋

— Scott jorgensen (@Scottjorgensen) July 7, 2015

Hey @MMAWorldSeries remember me? I took a new opponent on two hrs notice, cuz I'm a company guy. How bout booking me a fight? #billstopay

— Jake Heun (@JakeHeun) July 6, 2015

Name a job where you work hard every day and have no idea when you will get paid.

— Roxanne Modafferi (@Roxyfighter) July 6, 2015

That moment when you sneeze and pop your back out again... #OldFighterProblems again

— Bubba McDaniel (@BubbaTheMenace) July 5, 2015

Sorry, guys. Despite having over a decade of experience in & over two dozen MMA fights, a dude on Twitter said I don't know what I'm doing.

— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) July 8, 2015

My neurologist rubbed me wrong as soon as we met I should of picked 1 who is a fan of fighting Still didn't release me have to get a MRI now

— Josh Clark (@joshclarkmma) July 7, 2015

Lost a brand new pair of Ray Bans and that, my friends, angers me.

— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) July 9, 2015

I am so sick of cooking ... going through that phase of my diet right now

— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) July 8, 2015

Welcome to Lake Oswego where you don't matter as much as me. Really? You took the final THREE spots? pic.twitter.com/F01C0yow8l

— Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) July 2, 2015

Antes do MMA, quando meu nariz era bonito! Hahahaha!! Before I did MMA when I had a beautiful nose.... https://t.co/qPPfrlXD6N

— Fabricio Werdum (@FabricioWerdum) July 8, 2015

Antes do MMA, quando meu nariz era bonito! Hahahaha!! Before I did MMA when I had a beautiful nose. Hahahaha! #redot #mhpstrong

A photo posted by Fabricio Werdum (@werdum) on Jul 8, 2015 at 9:26am PDT

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (July 9 2015)

Justin Gaethje vs. Luis Palomino at WSOF 23

Dave Branch vs. Teddy Holder at WSOF 23

Jake Matthews out, Mickael Lebout vs. Teemu Packalen at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites

Kajan Johnson vs. Naoyuki Kotani at UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson

Antonio Braga Neto out, Zak Cummings vs. Dominique Steele at UFC on FOX 16

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.