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

Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he reflects on how his clan's life has changed since relocating to England from Dagestan a decade ago.

"I love it here," the Professional Fighters League star states.

"My father and I always say, 'this is the country I should have been born in.'"

The 21-year-old left his home in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father was convinced a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles promised superior career opportunities for him and his siblings.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Starting as Grapplers to Football Prodigies

Located in southern Russia, Dagestan has a mythical status among combat sports fans for producing a slew of UFC titleholders in recent years.

The region has a rich tradition in wrestling, excelling in the combat sambo style and producing numerous Olympic and world champions.

This achievement is no accident, however, as youth from the region are often encouraged to take up fighting, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can stand.

"As a young, my dad was constantly telling me and my little brothers that we had to be powerful, firstly to defend ourselves, your relatives, and your friends," states Ibragim.

"So we all got used to combat, and that's why people understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise."

"Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can observe the move from wrestling to football; clearly, it assisted my little brothers a great deal."

"Many of the footballers he comes up against lack the same base he possesses. That's why he's solid, powerful and incredibly driven – because of wrestling."

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

He was unfazed by the mistake and was perfectly capable competing against older players because of his experience in wrestling.

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

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

The clan's time in South Yorkshire was short-lived, though, as only weeks after joining the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he transferred across the Pennines as a result.

"They faced Manchester United in a tournament and Amir scored a spectacular free-kick," recalls Ibragim.

"One of their scouts watched him play and picked him straight away."

Six years after signing for the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir was one of the most youthful 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 belong'," Ibragim says.

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

"In my opinion they would play less effectively than the current first-team players. I think the youngsters are more motivated 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 talented," continues Ibragim.

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

'A Goal' to Compete at Old Trafford

Ibragim has also relocated to Manchester and spends most of his days sharpening his MMA skills at Manchester Top Team.

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

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

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

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

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

But that does not prevent him from sometimes dreaming of playing for United and walking out on the historic turf at Old Trafford, much like his brothers.

"I had a PlayStation at home and I always 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 dream come true."

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