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

Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he reflects on how his clan's life has changed since relocating to England from Dagestan a decade ago.

"I love it here," the Professional Fighters League competitor declares.

"We frequently comment, 'this is the nation I ought to have been born in.'"

The young man left his homeland in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father believed a move spanning more than 3,000 miles offered superior career opportunities for him and his siblings.

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 country's universities.

But, reality now looks somewhat different for the Ibragimov household.

Ibragim is now a professional mixed martial arts fighter and is regarded as one of the top talents in the PFL, a prominent MMA organization.

His siblings have chosen a separate route in athletics and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir pushing for a place in the senior squad.

"Our key goal for us is to extract everything from our chosen fields," says Ibragim.

"I hope them to play for every one of the best teams in the world. Today it is Man United, tomorrow it could be a another team."

From Grapplers to Soccer Talents

Situated in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mystical status among fight fans for generating a slew of UFC champions in recent years.

The area has a rich tradition in wrestling, thriving in the sambo discipline and creating numerous Olympic and world champions.

This success is no accident, however, as children from the region are frequently pushed to begin combat sports, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk.

"As a young, my dad was always instructing me and my little brothers that we needed to be powerful, first to defend yourself, your relatives, and your companions," says Ibragim.

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

"Amir was a excellent wrestler. You can observe the move from wrestling to football; obviously, it helped my little brothers a great deal."

"Many of the players he comes up against don't have the identical base he has. That's why he's stocky, powerful and really driven – due to wrestling."

Amir was only nine years old when he was put through his paces at Sheffield United. Not knowing of his actual age, coaches placed him with boys significantly older.

He was unfazed by the oversight and was more than comfortable holding his own against older players thanks to his experience in wrestling.

"They believed Amir and I were the same age, so the story goes," says Ibragim.

Amir was signed, along with Ibragim's little brothers Gazik and Muhammad.

The clan's stay in South Yorkshire was short-lived, however, as only weeks after joining the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's talent and he transferred across the Pennines as a result.

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

"One of their scouts watched him play and picked him straight away."

Six years after joining the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir was one of the most youthful players in the club's history to practice with the first team when he achieved this in April 2023.

"Know what he told me? 'This is where I belong'," Ibragim reveals.

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

"In my opinion they would play less effectively than the current starters. I think the young guys are hungrier than the current first-team players."

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

"Gazik, this kid is talented," continues Ibragim.

"He learned every skill quicker than the others. He's a solid defender. He's going to be like a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'The Goal' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams

Ibragim has now moved to Manchester and dedicates most of his days sharpening his MMA skills at a local gym.

In August, he passed three weeks in his native region at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, helping Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC championship bout.

"I would never have thought I would be learning under Khabib," Ibragim says.

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

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

Fresh from working with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is unsurprising Ibragim states he is eager to win a world title of his own someday.

But that does not prevent him from sometimes dreaming of playing for United and walking out on the historic 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 says.

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

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