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

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

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

"We frequently comment, 'this was the country I should have been born in.'"

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

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

But, life has turned out somewhat different for the Ibragimov family.

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

His siblings have taken a different path in athletics and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a spot in the senior squad.

"The primary goal for us is to extract everything out of our sports," 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 different team."

Starting as Wrestlers to Football Talents

Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan has a mythical reputation among fight enthusiasts for generating a slew of UFC titleholders in the past few years.

The region has a rich history in wrestling, excelling in the combat sambo discipline and creating numerous Olympic and world winners.

This achievement is not a coincidence, however, as children from the region are frequently pushed to begin fighting, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can stand.

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

"So we all became accustomed 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 helped 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 really driven – due to wrestling."

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

He was unfazed by the mistake and was more than comfortable holding his own against older players because of his experience in wrestling.

"They believed Amir and I were the same age, so the story goes," says Ibragim.

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

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

"They played Manchester United in a tournament and Amir scored 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 was 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? Without a doubt. They should let all the young players play now."

"In my opinion they would play less effectively than the current starters. I think the young guys are hungrier than the current squad members."

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

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

"He learned everything quicker than the others. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'The Dream' to Compete at Old Trafford

Ibragim has now moved to Manchester and dedicates most of his days honing 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 prepare for a November UFC championship bout.

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

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

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

Recently training with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim says he is desperate to win a world title of his own one day.

But that does not stop him from occasionally fantasizing of playing for United and walking out on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, much like his brothers.

"I had a PlayStation at home and I constantly used to play as Man United, scoring goals with legendary players," he recalls.

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

"An event 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."