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

Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he reflects on how his clan's life has evolved since relocating to England from Dagestan in 2017.

"I am fond of it here," the PFL competitor states.

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

The young man departed his home in the Caucasus region of Russia because his father believed a move covering more than 3,000 miles offered superior professional 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 universities.

But, life now looks slightly different for the Ibragimov family.

Ibragim is now a pro mixed martial arts athlete and is viewed as one of the top prospects in the PFL, a major MMA organization.

His brothers have taken a separate path in sport and have all been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a position in the senior squad.

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

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

Starting as Wrestlers to Football Talents

Situated in the south of Russia, Dagestan holds a mythical reputation among combat sports fans for producing a slew of UFC champions in the past few years.

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

This achievement is no accident, though, as youth from the region are often pushed to begin fighting, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk.

"As a a kid, my dad was always instructing me and my little brothers that we had to be strong, firstly to defend ourselves, your family, and your companions," says Ibragim.

"Therefore we all got used to combat, and which is why everyone understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising."

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

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

Amir was just nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Unaware of his real age, coaches grouped him with boys significantly older.

He was unfazed by the mistake and was perfectly capable holding his own against older players because of his background in wrestling.

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

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

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

"They faced Manchester United in a tournament and Amir netted 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 youngest players in the club's records to practice with the senior side when he did so in April 2023.

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

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

"I don't think they would play worse than the existing starters. I think the youngsters are more motivated than the present first-team players."

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 talented," continues Ibragim.

"He learned everything faster than everyone else. He's a solid defender. He's going to be like a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'A Goal' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams

Ibragim has now relocated 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, assisting Islam Makhachev get ready for a November UFC championship bout.

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

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

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

Recently training with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim says he is eager to claim a world title of his own someday.

However that does not stop him from occasionally dreaming 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 legendary players," he says.

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

"An event at Old Trafford? It's a ambition for me. I was speaking to the PFL guys about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be enormous."