The Siblings from Dagestan Excelling in Mixed Martial Arts and with Man Utd.

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

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

"We often remark, 'this was the nation I ought to have been born in.'"

The young man left his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father was convinced a relocation spanning more than 3,000 miles promised better professional opportunities for him and his siblings.

The original idea 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 universities.

But, life now looks somewhat distinct for the Ibragimov family.

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

His siblings have taken a separate path in athletics and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a place in the senior squad.

"The primary goal for us is to extract the maximum out of our sports," says Ibragim.

"I hope them to represent all of the finest teams in the world. Today it is Man United, in the future it could be a different team."

Starting as Wrestlers to Soccer Talents

Located in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mystical reputation among fight fans for generating a number of UFC champions in recent years.

The region has a long tradition in grappling, excelling in the sambo style and creating a host of Olympic and world champions.

This success is not a coincidence, however, as youth from the region are frequently pushed to take up combat sports, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can stand.

"As a young, my dad was always telling me and my younger brothers that we needed to be powerful, first to defend yourself, your relatives, and your companions," says Ibragim.

"So we all became accustomed to combat, and that's why people knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise."

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

"Many of the players he comes up against don't have the same foundation he possesses. That's why he's stocky, strong and really competitive – because of wrestling."

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

He was not intimidated by the mistake and was more than comfortable competing against older players because of his background in wrestling.

"They thought Amir and I were the identical age, so the story goes," says Ibragim.

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

The family's stay in South Yorkshire was brief, however, as only weeks after joining the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's talent and he transferred 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 selected him straight away."

Half a dozen years after signing for 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 first team when he achieved this in April 2023.

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

"Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? 100%. They should allow all the young players get game time right now."

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

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

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

"He picked up every skill faster than everyone else. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'The Dream' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams

Ibragim has now relocated to Manchester and dedicates most of his days perfecting his MMA abilities at a local gym.

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

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

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

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

Fresh from working with two UFC champions from Dagestan, it is unsurprising Ibragim states he is eager to claim a world title of his own one day.

However that does not stop him from sometimes fantasizing 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 constantly used to play as Man United, scoring with legendary players," he says.

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

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