Steelers' Mike Mitchell, Arthur Moats talk UFC viewing habits and support of McGregor

PITTSBURGH – During the NFL season, when teams are getting ready for Sunday games, they typically have Saturday-night curfews.

Stuck in hotels the night before they go to work, what do a lot of players wind up doing? If you’re with the Pittsburgh Steelers, chances are you might wind up watching the UFC.

Thats’ the case for Steelers defensive back Mike Mitchell and linebacker Arthur Moats, who each joined the team in 2014.

“I always have my laptop with me on the road,” Mitchell told MMAjunkie on Friday in Pittsburgh. “When there’s a pay-per-view, guys are always in each others’ rooms trying to watch the fights. I think there’s a correlation – a little bit – between football and MMA. Obviously, they’re both two very physical sports. We’re big fans of those guys, and we just met a couple guys who are fans of us.”

Mitchell and Moats were on hand to watch the fighters at the top of the card for tonight’s UFC Fight Night 83 while they worked out for fans and the media at Stout Training Pittsburgh on Friday. The card is headlined by a welterweight bout between Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira.

Although MMA is an individual sport and Mitchell and Moats are part of a team game, they see some correlations between the two.

“The cardio aspect is the most intense part, I think,” Moats said. “In both sports, if you get tired, it doesn’t matter what skill level you have. You’re not going to be able to perform at your best. The cardio plays a huge aspect of it.”

Tonight, they’ll be watching a “Cowboy” vs. “Cowboy” fight, and they took time to meet with both fighters on Friday. But with their eyes on a fight a couple weeks down the road, the hard-hitting defenders said they’ll be throwing their support the way of “The Notorious” Conor McGregor, who goes after a second title when he challenges for Rafael dos Anjos’ lightweight belt at UFC 196.

“Right now, it’s big time Conor McGregor: ‘We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over,'” Mitchell said.

Check out more from Mitchell and Moats in the video above. Then don’t miss UFC Fight Night 83, which takes place tonight at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. After early prelims on UFC Fight Pass, the rest of the card airs on FOX Sports 1.

For more on UFC Fight Night 83, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.