UFC star Anthony Smith has backtracked on his comments blasting Jake Paul and "stupid" and "ignorant".
The former light heavyweight title contender was stunned back in February when he was made aware that Paul had called for a bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov in MMA. At the time, he called it "the most ignorant thing I’ve ever heard in my whole life," and blasted Paul as "stupid", but he has now softened his stance.
Paul has become a major activist for increases in fighter pay, which is a trait that has gained him respect from a number of competitors in both MMA and boxing. One of those is Smith, who admits that while the pair may have differing personalities, he respects the social media star.
“I’ve come around on Jake a little bit, too, to be honest with you,” Smith said to MMAFighting, before adding that "still thinks he’s kind of a douchebag." "But it’s OK to be a douchebag," Smith continued. "He’s not my type of dude. I’m not sure he and I could hang out and be friends.
"If he’s truly out here trying to help people and get pay up, and it seems like he’s going into his own pocket to help people on his own shows and stuff, I have a hard time knocking that."
Smith is also keen to stress that he has no problem with Paul making huge purses from the fight game, which amounted to around $45million last year. "I’ve always said, I don’t have any problem with him making money," he added. "If you can get it, get it.
"I think everyone has the right to compete if they want to. I’ve always stuck up for him and said that he has the right to compete. He has a right to be here. He has a place at the table.”
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It's a stark contrast to Smith's previous comments, which came after Paul had offered to fight in UFC legend Nurmagomedov's new Eagle FC promotion on the condition that he get a bout with the retired fighter first.
At the time, 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 1 All-American and Khabib has no problem with getting Gaethje down and just controlling him on the ground.
"Jake Paul doesn’t have enough time on this earth left to bridge a gap between him and Khabib wrestling - I have a hard time believing one person can be that stupid."
Paul is currently in training for his ring return, which is slated for August. He is 5-0 as a professional boxer, with four KOs, the most recent of which was over former UFC welterweight Tyron Woodley back in December.
