The Siblings from Dagestan Making Their Mark in MMA and at Man Utd.

Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he reflects on how his family's life has changed since moving to England from Dagestan eight years ago.

"I love it here," the PFL competitor declares.

"We frequently say, 'this is the nation I ought to have been born in.'"

The 21-year-old left his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father believed a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles would provide better career opportunities for him and his siblings.

The initial idea was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to complete school before joining one of the country's universities.

However, reality has turned out somewhat different for the Ibragimov household.

Ibragim is now a professional MMA athlete and is seen as one of the leading talents in the PFL, a prominent MMA league.

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

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

"I want them to play for every one of the top teams in the world. Today it is Man United, in the future it could be a different team."

From Grapplers to Football Prodigies

Located in the south of Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical reputation among combat sports fans for producing a host of UFC champions in the past few years.

The area has a long history in wrestling, thriving in the combat sambo discipline and creating a host of Olympic and world champions.

This achievement is no accident, however, as children from the region are frequently pushed to begin combat sports, specifically wrestling, practically as soon as they can stand.

"As a a kid, my dad was constantly telling me and my little brothers that we needed to be strong, first to defend ourselves, your relatives, and your companions," states Ibragim.

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

"Amir was a excellent wrestler. You can see the move from wrestling to football; obviously, it assisted my younger brothers a lot."

"Many of the footballers he faces lack the same base he has. That's why he's stocky, strong and really competitive – due to wrestling."

Amir was only 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 unfazed by the mistake and was more than comfortable competing against older players thanks to his experience in wrestling.

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

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

The family's time in South Yorkshire was short-lived, though, as just weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's talent and he moved over the Pennines as a result.

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

"One of their talent spotters watched him play and selected him straight away."

Six years after signing for the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the most youthful players in the club's records to train 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 says.

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

"In my opinion they would play less effectively than the existing first-team players. I think the youngsters are more motivated than the present squad members."

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

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

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

'The Dream' to Fight at the Theatre of Dreams

Ibragim has also moved to Manchester and dedicates most of his days sharpening his MMA skills 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 late-year UFC championship bout.

"I never have thought 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."

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

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

However that does not stop him from sometimes dreaming of playing for United and stepping out on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, similar to his brothers.

"I owned a PlayStation at home and I constantly 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 similar to a dream come true."

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