Those Siblings from Dagestan Making Their Mark in Mixed Martial Arts and with Man Utd.

Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he thinks about how his clan's life has evolved since relocating to England from Dagestan eight years ago.

"I am fond of it here," the Professional Fighters League competitor remarks.

"My father and I frequently remark, 'this is the nation I ought to have been born in.'"

The young man left his home in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father was convinced a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles would provide 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 finish school before enrolling in one of the country's universities.

However, reality now looks somewhat distinct for the Ibragimov family.

Ibragim is now a pro MMA fighter and is viewed as one of the top talents in the PFL, a major MMA league.

His siblings have taken a separate path in sport and have all been signed by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a spot in the first team.

"The primary goal for us is to squeeze everything from our sports," explains Ibragim.

"I desire them to represent all of the top teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it could be a another team."

From Grapplers to Soccer Talents

Situated in the south of Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical reputation among fight enthusiasts for generating a slew of UFC champions in the past few years.

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

This achievement is not a coincidence, however, as children from the region are frequently encouraged to begin combat sports, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can stand.

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

"Therefore we all became accustomed to combat, and which is why everyone knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise."

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

"Many of the players he faces don't have the same base he possesses. That's why he's solid, powerful and really driven – because of wrestling."

Amir was just 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 not intimidated by the oversight and was more than comfortable competing against older players because of his background in wrestling.

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

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

The clan's time in South Yorkshire was brief, however, as just weeks after joining the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's ability and he transferred across the Pennines consequently.

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

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

Half a dozen years after joining the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the youngest players in the club's records to train with the senior side when he did so in April 2023.

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

"Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? 100%. They should allow all the young players get game time now."

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

Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once part of the academy of Manchester City, have also made the move to Manchester United.

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

"He picked up every skill faster than everyone else. He's a solid defender. He's going to be like a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'A Dream' to Fight at the Theatre of Dreams

Ibragim has also relocated to Manchester and dedicates most of his days perfecting his MMA abilities at a local gym.

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

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

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

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

Recently working 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.

However that does not stop him from occasionally fantasizing of representing 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 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."

"An event at Old Trafford? It's a goal for me. I was discussing with the PFL guys about it to see if they could do it. It would be massive."