Those Siblings from Dagestan Excelling in MMA and with Man Utd.

Ibragim Ibragimov breaks into a smile as he reflects on how his clan's life has transformed since relocating to England from Dagestan a decade ago.

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

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

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

The initial plan was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to finish school before joining one of the country's colleges.

However, life now looks slightly distinct for the Ibragimov household.

Ibragim is now a pro MMA athlete and is regarded as one of the prime prospects in the PFL, a leading MMA league.

His brothers have taken a separate route in athletics and have all been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a place in the senior squad.

"The main goal for us is to extract the maximum out of our chosen fields," explains Ibragim.

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

From Wrestlers to Football Talents

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

The area has a long tradition in wrestling, excelling in the sambo discipline and producing a host of Olympic and world champions.

This achievement is no accident, though, as children from the region are often pushed to begin combat sports, particularly wrestling, practically as soon as they can stand.

"As a young, my dad was constantly telling me and my little brothers that we had to be powerful, first to defend ourselves, your family, and your friends," states Ibragim.

"So we all got used to combat, and that's why everyone knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising."

"Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can see the move from wrestling to football; clearly, it helped my younger brothers a great deal."

"Some of the footballers he comes up against don't have the identical foundation he possesses. That's why he's solid, strong and incredibly driven – because of wrestling."

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

He was unfazed by the mistake and was more than comfortable competing against older players because of his background in wrestling.

"They believed Amir and I were the same age, apparently," remarks Ibragim.

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

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

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

"One of their scouts saw him play and picked him immediately."

Six years after joining the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the most youthful players in the club's records to practice with the senior side when he achieved this in April 2023.

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

"Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? 100%. They need to allow all the young players play right now."

"I don't think they would play less effectively than the existing starters. I think the young guys are more motivated than the current first-team players."

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

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

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

'A Goal' to Compete at Old Trafford

Ibragim has also moved to Manchester and spends most of his days honing his MMA skills at Manchester Top Team.

In August, he spent three weeks in his native region at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev get ready for a November UFC championship bout.

"I would never have imagined I would be learning under Khabib," Ibragim admits.

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

"Now, I'm here in his gym and training with Islam Makhachev."

Recently working with two UFC champions from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is desperate to win a world title of his own someday.

However that does not prevent him from sometimes dreaming of playing for United and walking out on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, much like his brothers.

"I owned a PlayStation at home and I always used to play as Man United, scoring goals with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he says.

"Now, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's like a dream come true."

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