The Brothers from the Dagestani Region Excelling in Mixed Martial Arts and with Man Utd.

Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he considers how his family's life has transformed since relocating to England from Dagestan in 2017.

"I am fond of it here," the Professional Fighters League athlete states.

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

The young man left his home in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father believed a relocation spanning more than 3,000 miles promised better career prospects for him and his brothers.

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

But, life has turned out quite distinct for the Ibragimov household.

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

His siblings have chosen a separate path in sport and have all been signed by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a spot in the first team.

"The main goal for us is to squeeze the maximum out of our sports," explains Ibragim.

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

Starting as Wrestlers to Soccer Talents

Located in southern Russia, Dagestan has a mystical reputation among combat sports fans for producing a slew of UFC champions in recent years.

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

This success is no accident, though, as children from the region are frequently encouraged to begin fighting, particularly wrestling, practically as soon as they can stand.

"As a a kid, my dad was constantly instructing me and my younger brothers that we had to be powerful, first to defend yourself, your family, and your friends," 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 highly skilled wrestler. You can see the transition from wrestling to football; clearly, it helped my younger brothers a lot."

"Many of the footballers he faces don't have the identical foundation he has. That's why he's solid, powerful and really competitive – because of wrestling."

Amir was only nine years old when he was put through his paces at Sheffield United. Not knowing of his actual age, coaches grouped him with boys five years older.

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

"They thought Amir and I were the identical 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 short-lived, however, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's ability and he transferred across the Pennines consequently.

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

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

Half a dozen years after joining the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir was one of the most youthful players in the club's history to practice with the senior side when he did so in April 2023.

"Do you know what he told me? 'Here is where I belong'," Ibragim reveals.

"Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? Absolutely. They need to allow all the youthful players play now."

"I don't think they would play less effectively than the current first-team players. I think the youngsters are hungrier than the present squad members."

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

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

"He learned every skill quicker than everyone else. He's a good defender. He's going to be like a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'The Goal' to Fight at Old Trafford

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

In August, he spent three weeks in his native region at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, helping Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC championship bout.

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

"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 training with Islam Makhachev."

Recently training with two UFC champions from Dagestan, it is unsurprising Ibragim states he is eager to win a world title of his own someday.

But that does not prevent him from occasionally dreaming of playing for United and stepping out on the historic turf at Old Trafford, similar to his brothers.

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

"Today, 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 officials about it to see if they could do it. It would be massive."