Animal defenders demand to punish Dagestani MMA fighter Nurmagomedov for fighting a bear

The US animal rights organization requested the UFC to make a stand against Khabib Nurmagomedov for fighting a bear and urged the Dagestani fighter to stick to wrestling with willing human opponents only.

The call followed videos on social networks showing fights between the MMA fighter from Russia and a bear, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

"PETA encourages the UFC to evaluate its relationship with Mr Nurmagomedov until he shows a clear change in attitude and a commitment to showing animals the respect they deserve," said Elisa Allen, the director of the PETA's London office, as quoted by the RIA "Novosti".

A video filmed in 1997 in which nine-year-old Khabib Nurmagomedov was wrestling with a bear was posted on YouTube in 2013. Khabib's training with the animal was arranged by his father. The footage shows how Khabib Nurmagomedov "is wrestling" with the bear tied to a chain.

"Wrestling with a chained bear is a loathsome behaviour ... Bears used in Russia for 'boxing,' 'dancing,' or other archaic forms of entertainment are usually torn from their mothers as cubs, chained, caged, muzzled, and beaten," the "Sport24.com" quotes Elisa Allen as saying.