Jake Paul has been branded "ignorant" and "stupid" for calling out retired UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov to a meeting in the cage.
The UFC star has been exchanging with Paul on social media after the 25-year-old confirmed his ambition to compete in MMA.
Nurmagomedov has confirmed his interest in bringing Paul over to his new promotion Eagles FC with Paul accepting, providing he is first allowed to challenge the former champion.
However UFC light-heavyweight Anthony Smith has admitted Paul's attitude to the undefeated star "drives him crazy".
“It drives me crazy," Smith said on Michael Bisping's podcast. "That is the most ignorant thing I’ve ever heard in my whole life.
"Justin Gaethje is a Division I All-American and Khabib had no problem with getting Gaethje down and just controlling him on the ground. No issue at all.
" Jake Paul doesn’t have enough time on this earth left to bridge the gap between him and Khabib wrestling. I just, I have a hard time believing one person can be that stupid.”
Smith is currently ranked fourth in the UFC's light-heavyweight rankings and is eyeing a rematch with third ranked contender Aleksandar Rakic.
He has joined a number of people who have questioned Paul's potential debut in the MMA cage with fans also questioning his kicking technique in a training video released on social media.
Nurmagomedov claimed he offered a contract to Paul on behalf of his promotion to sign an offer to compete under the banner.
However Paul's promotional label Most Valuable Promotions swiftly denied the accusation claiming that no contact has been made.
After making a lasting impression in boxing, Paul is hoping that he can use his wrestling background to make a similar impact on MMA.
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The Russian star mocked Paul's attempt to make the switch to MMA and fight him brushing him off by claiming it would only last "a couple of minutes".
Paul's focus is currently on boxing exploits but he has confirmed he would be willing to purse an MMA bout or contract with Nurmagomedov providing his financial demands of around $30-$35 million are met.
"Not in the near future," Paul told the MMA Hour about a potential switch to MMA. "I would need to practice my kicks for like two years unless the money was right.
"People would have to come with $25- $35million to even begin a conversation with me. But I would fight Khabib in MMA if they wanted to make that offer. That would excite me if they wanted to make that offer.
"The fight would be massive right, would probably sell a million to two million pay-per-view buys. All I would have to do is practice my wrestling because I think I could out-strike him standing up."
Paul has been warned any appearance in the cage could end badly for him, with Bisping himself telling him to "forget" any shot at the retired star.
