Those Brothers from Dagestan Making Their Mark in Mixed Martial Arts and at Man Utd.

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

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

"My father and I always remark, 'this was the nation I should have been born in.'"

The 21-year-old left his home in the North Caucasus of Russia because his father believed a move spanning more than 3,000 miles would provide superior professional opportunities for him and his brothers.

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

However, life has turned out slightly distinct for the Ibragimov family.

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

His brothers have taken a separate route in sport and have all been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a place in the first team.

"Our key goal for us is to extract everything out of our chosen fields," explains Ibragim.

"I want them to represent every one of the top teams in the world. Today it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a another team."

From Grapplers to Football Talents

Located in southern Russia, Dagestan holds a mythical status among combat sports enthusiasts for producing a slew of UFC champions in the past few years.

The region has a long history in wrestling, thriving in the sambo style and producing a host of Olympic and world champions.

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

"As a a kid, my dad was constantly telling me and my little brothers that we needed to be powerful, firstly to protect yourself, your family, and your companions," says Ibragim.

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

"Amir was a very good wrestler. You can observe the transition from wrestling to football; obviously, it helped my younger brothers a lot."

"Many of the players he comes up against lack the same base he has. That's why he's solid, strong and really driven – due to wrestling."

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

He was unfazed by the oversight and was perfectly comfortable holding his own 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 younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad.

The clan's time in South Yorkshire was brief, though, as only weeks after joining the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's ability and he moved over the Pennines consequently.

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

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

Half a dozen 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 first team when he did so in April 2023.

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

"Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Absolutely. They should allow all the youthful players play now."

"I don't think they would play less effectively than the existing first-team players. I believe the young guys are hungrier than the current squad members."

Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once part of the academy of Manchester City, have likewise transferred to Manchester United.

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

"He learned every skill faster than the others. He's a solid defender. He's going to be similar to a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'The Dream' to Fight at the Theatre of Dreams

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

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

"I never have imagined I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim says.

"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 training with Islam Makhachev."

Recently training with two UFC titleholders 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 stop him from sometimes fantasizing of representing United and stepping out on the historic turf at Old Trafford, similar to his brothers.

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

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

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