ANIMAL INSTINCTS
Watch as UFC champion Khabib wrestles ‘old friend’ bear he used to brawl with as a child
Russian's dad admitted he used to grapple with the bear as a child in a bid to build his character
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov returned to Russia where he was reunited with his old wrestling pal... a brown Dagestani bear.
The 30-year-old used to grapple with the bear to test his character before he hit the big time.
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His father, Abdulmanap, previously said: "Firstly, a child always wants his father to see what his son is capable of.
"It is a pity that there was nothing more interesting when he was younger. In the end, this was a test of character more than exercise."
And with a chain around the bear's neck, his coach Javier Mendez uploaded a controversial video of Khabib entertaining a group of his mates by tussling with the mammal.
A number of those in attendance then couldn't resist having their own wrestle with the bear.
This was a test of character more than exercise
Abdulmanap, Khabib's father
Mendez would also show a further insight into Khabib's rise to the top by showing footage of his village in Dagestan and the hill he used to run up to train.
Khabib hasn't been far away from the headlines following an "unacceptable" social media war with old foe Conor McGregor.
The Irishman suffered a devastating defeat against Khabib last year and UFC president Dana White believes the pair will have a mutual respect for each other in good time.
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He recently told CNN: "I don’t think these guys are going to be friends, hang out and go for dinner and stuff.
“But listen, when you get in there with another guy and you fight it out for what would end up being seven, eight, nine, 10 rounds between these two, there ends up becoming a sort of mutual respect.
“And I think that we will get to a point someday where these two have a mutual respect for each other."
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