JAKE PAUL has been accused of performing a "smoke and mirrors" act with his recent offer to Nate Diaz.
The Problem Child challenged the former UFC star to a two-fight series – one in boxing and the other in MMA – after announcing his multi-year deal with the Professional Fighters League.
Paul's willingness to fight Diaz in the cage impressed many, but not former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping – who reckons the YouTuber is trying to dodge a legitimate fight in the boxing world.
During a recent episode of his Believe You Me podcast, The Count said: " “Now, Nate Diaz, he’s a decent boxer, he’s as tough as they come, he’s got great jiu-jitsu, but he’s not known for being the best wrestler.
“So maybe, could he take Jake Paul down? Is Nate Diaz at the end of his career?
"This is all smoke and mirrors.
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"This is all just Jake Paul trying to navigate the waters of how he can continue to make money.
"He can’t do it in boxing because in boxing if he’s going to have a big boxing fight, it has to be against a real boxer and a real boxer would more than likely beat him, which is not what they want.
"He can’t continue calling up former UFC legends that are retired because that’s not doing it any more either."
Paul has got a perfect 6-0 thanks to consecutive wins over former UFC welterweight and middleweight champions Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva.
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But the ex-Disney star had a marked size advantage over the pair and former Bellator champ Ben Askren, which Bisping believes he's trying to utilise against Diaz.
He added: “The point I’m making is he’s never fought a boxer.
"But even still, these former UFC legends, they’re not pulling in the pay-per-view numbers.
"So now he’s going to have to fight mixed martial arts, which on paper makes it sound like Jake Paul is doing the right thing.
"He’s being courageous, he’s willing to switch sports.
"But he’s not. It’s going to be hand-picked opponents.
"Nate Diaz in a boxing match first that’ll be co-promoted by the PFL.
"And then mixed martial arts, again, yeah Nate Diaz is the better mixed martial artist for sure, but size is a real thing.”
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Diaz seemingly poured cold water on the prospect of facing Paul in the PFL by tweeting the logo for Japanese MMA promotion RIZIN hours after the call out.
Fan favourite Diaz is currently a free agent after seeing out his UFC contract with a fourth-round submission victory over Tony Ferguson last September
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