Those Brothers from the Dagestani Region Making Their Mark in MMA and with Manchester United.

Ibragim Ibragimov breaks into a smile as he considers how his family's life has evolved since relocating to England from Dagestan in 2017.

"I adore it here," the PFL star declares.

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

The 21-year-old departed his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia because his father was convinced a move covering more than 3,000 miles offered superior career opportunities for him and his brothers.

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

However, life has turned out slightly different for the Ibragimov household.

Ibragim is now a pro MMA fighter and is seen as one of the top talents in the PFL, a leading MMA organization.

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

"The primary goal for us is to extract the maximum from our chosen fields," explains Ibragim.

"I hope them to play for every one of the best teams in the world. Today it is Man United, tomorrow it could be a another team."

From Grapplers to Football Prodigies

Located in southern Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical reputation among combat sports fans for generating a number of UFC titleholders in the past few years.

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

This success is not a coincidence, however, as youth from the region are frequently encouraged to take up fighting, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk.

"As a a kid, my dad was always instructing me and my younger brothers that we had to be strong, first to defend ourselves, your relatives, and your companions," states Ibragim.

"So we all became accustomed to fighting, and that's why people knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising."

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

"Many of the footballers he comes up against lack the identical base he possesses. That's why he's stocky, powerful 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, trainers placed him with boys five years older.

He was not intimidated by the oversight and was perfectly comfortable holding his own against older players because of his background 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 clan's stay in South Yorkshire was short-lived, though, as only weeks after joining the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's ability and he moved over the Pennines consequently.

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

"One of their talent spotters watched 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 most youthful players in the club's history to practice with the first team when he did so in April 2023.

"Know what he told me? 'This is where I belong'," Ibragim says.

"Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They need to let all the young players get game time right now."

"I don't think they would play worse than the existing starters. I think the young guys are hungrier than the current squad members."

Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the younger once part of the academy of Manchester City, have likewise made the move to Manchester United.

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

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

'A Goal' to Fight at Old Trafford

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

In August, he spent three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev get ready 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 constantly used to look up to him when we were growing up."

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

Recently training with two UFC champions from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is eager to win a world title of his own someday.

But that does not stop him from occasionally dreaming of representing 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 with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he says.

"Now, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's like a dream come true."

"A fight at Old Trafford? It's a dream for me. I was discussing with the PFL guys about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be enormous."