Those Brothers from Dagestan Making Their Mark in MMA and at Man Utd.

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

"I love it here," the PFL athlete states.

"My father and I often say, 'this is the country I ought to have been born in.'"

The young man departed his home in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father believed a move spanning more than 3,000 miles would provide better professional prospects for him and his siblings.

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

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

Ibragim is now a professional mixed martial arts athlete and is seen as one of the prime talents in the PFL, a major MMA league.

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

"The main thing for us is to squeeze the maximum out of our chosen fields," says Ibragim.

"I want them to play for all of the top teams in the world. Today it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a different team."

From Grapplers to Football Talents

Situated in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mystical status among combat sports enthusiasts for generating a number of UFC titleholders in recent years.

The area has a rich history in grappling, excelling in the sambo discipline and creating a host of Olympic and world winners.

This achievement is not a coincidence, though, as youth from the region are often pushed to begin fighting, particularly wrestling, practically as soon as they can walk.

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

"So we all got used to fighting, and which is why people knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising."

"Amir was a very good wrestler. You can observe the move from wrestling to football; clearly, it assisted my little brothers a lot."

"Many of the players he faces don't have the identical foundation he possesses. That's why he's solid, powerful and incredibly driven – due to wrestling."

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

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

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

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

The family'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 across the Pennines as a result.

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

"One of their scouts watched 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 history to practice with the senior side when he did so in April 2023.

"Do you know what he said to me? 'Here is where I belong'," Ibragim reveals.

"Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They should let all the young players play right now."

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

Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the younger once part of the academy 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 Dream' to Fight at Old Trafford

Ibragim has now moved to Manchester and dedicates most of his days sharpening his MMA skills at Manchester Top Team.

In August, he spent three weeks in his native region at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, helping Islam Makhachev prepare for a November UFC title fight.

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

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

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

Recently training with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is unsurprising Ibragim says he is desperate to claim a world title of his own one day.

However that does not prevent him from occasionally fantasizing of representing United and walking out on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, much like his brothers.

"I owned a PlayStation at home and I constantly used to play as Man United, scoring goals 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 dream for me. I was speaking to the PFL officials about it to see if they would do it. It would be huge."