Those Brothers from the Dagestani Region Making Their Mark in MMA and at Man Utd.

Ibragim Ibragimov breaks into a smile as he considers how his family's life has transformed since relocating to England from Dagestan eight years ago.

"I adore it here," the Professional Fighters League competitor states.

"We often say, 'this was the nation I ought to have been born in.'"

The 21-year-old left his homeland in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father was convinced a relocation spanning more than 3,000 miles promised better career opportunities for him and his brothers.

The initial idea was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to complete their education before joining one of the nation's universities.

But, life has turned out somewhat distinct for the Ibragimov household.

Ibragim is now a pro mixed martial arts fighter and is seen as one of the prime prospects in the PFL, a leading MMA league.

His siblings have chosen a different route in athletics and have each been signed by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a position in the senior squad.

"The primary thing for us is to extract everything from our sports," explains Ibragim.

"I want them to represent all of the best teams in the world. Today it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a different team."

Starting as Wrestlers to Football Talents

Situated in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mystical reputation among combat sports enthusiasts for generating a slew of UFC titleholders in recent years.

The area has a rich history in wrestling, excelling in the sambo style and producing numerous Olympic and world champions.

This success is no accident, however, as children from the region are frequently encouraged to take up combat sports, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can stand.

"When I was a kid, my dad was constantly instructing me and my little brothers that we had to be strong, firstly to defend ourselves, your family, and your companions," states Ibragim.

"Therefore we all got used to combat, and that's why people knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise."

"Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can see the move from wrestling to football; obviously, it assisted my younger brothers a lot."

"Many of the players he comes up against don't have the same foundation he possesses. That's why he's solid, powerful and incredibly driven – due to wrestling."

Amir was only nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Not knowing of his actual age, coaches grouped him with boys significantly older.

He was not intimidated by the mistake and was more than comfortable holding his own against older players thanks to his background in wrestling.

"They believed Amir and I were the identical age, apparently," says Ibragim.

Amir was recruited, together with Ibragim's little brothers Gazik and Muhammad.

The family's stay in South Yorkshire was brief, though, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he transferred across the Pennines as a result.

"They played Manchester United in a competition and Amir netted a spectacular free-kick," recalls Ibragim.

"One of their scouts saw him play and selected him straight away."

Half a dozen years after signing for the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir was one of the youngest players in the club's history to practice with the first team when he achieved this in April 2023.

"Know what he said to me? 'Here is where I should be'," Ibragim says.

"Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They need to let all the young players get game time now."

"I don't think they would play less effectively than the current starters. I believe the young guys are more motivated than the current squad members."

Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the younger once on the books of Manchester City, have likewise made the move to Manchester United.

"Gazik, this youngster is talented," adds Ibragim.

"He picked up everything faster than the others. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'The Dream' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams

Ibragim has now relocated to Manchester and dedicates most of his days honing his MMA abilities at Manchester Top Team.

In August, he passed three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, helping Islam Makhachev get ready for a November UFC title fight.

"I never have thought I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim admits.

"He was the greatest fighter in the world – and we constantly used to idolize him when we were young."

"Today, I'm here in his gym and sparring alongside Islam Makhachev."

Fresh from working with two UFC champions from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is eager to claim a world title of his own one day.

But that does not prevent him from occasionally fantasizing of representing United and stepping out on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, similar to his brothers.

"I had a PlayStation at home and I always used to play as Man United, scoring goals with legendary players," he recalls.

"Today, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's like a fantasy realized."

"A fight at Old Trafford? It's a dream for me. I was speaking to the PFL guys about it to see if they would do it. It would be massive."