Israel Adesanya has told Khamzat Chimaev to 'show me something first' after being called out by the rising UFC star.

The Russian-born Swedish MMA fighter, 27, called out the 22-1 UFC middleweight champion last month.

Hitting out at Adesanya's wrestling ability, Chimaev has claimed the Last Stylebender will be a stroll in the park.

He tweeted: "Stylebender easy money for me, zero wrestling. First round I'm gonna [sic] kill him."

And Adesanya has responded in brilliant fashion by welcoming the showdown - but says Chimaev still has some work to do before he starts to 'take him seriously'.

Responding on the True Geordie Podcast, he said: “I don’t have to take him seriously 'till I have to take him seriously.

“And that’s a guy that definitely I’d like to fight if he does what he says he wants to do because guess what? He will bring in a lot of eyes. Those are the ones who are crazy enough to make something happen.

“He’s on his way, but show me something first. His last fight made me take notice. That was the one where I was like, ‘Ooh.’ I know how Jingliang is – he’s good.

Jun 12, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Israel Adesanya moves in for a hit against Marvin Vettori during UFC 263 at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

"There was something he did in that fight, I won’t give it away, but I was like, ‘Hmm, I like that.’ I was really impressed with it.

“So that’s what made me take notice of him properly, but at the moment, still, it’s just barking in the wind because who’s he fought at 185?

"Look, he can beat a lot of these guys at 185, a lot of the top guys, from what I’ve heard.

"But let me see it first and then we’ll start talking before all this hype around him.

"Skills and the gift of the gab, he knows how to run his mouth."

Chimaev has yet to fight in the UFC this year after his first-round submission victory over Li Jingliang last October.

UFC president Dana White has confirmed he will return to action on April 9 when he takes on Gilbert Burns at UFC 273.

Adesanya meanwhile is expected to face Jared Cannonier at some point later this year.

He's currently enjoying some well-earned downtime after defending his middleweight title in a rematch against Robert Whittaker at UFC 271 on February 12.