Those Siblings from the Dagestani Region Excelling in MMA and at Man Utd.

Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he thinks about how his clan's life has evolved since moving to England from Dagestan in 2017.

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

"We always say, 'this was the nation I should have been born in.'"

The 21-year-old departed his home in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father was convinced a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles would provide better career opportunities for him and his brothers.

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

However, reality now looks somewhat distinct for the Ibragimov household.

Ibragim is now a pro MMA fighter and is viewed as one of the prime talents in the PFL, a leading MMA league.

His siblings have chosen a different path in athletics and have all been signed by Manchester United – with Amir pushing for a place in the first team.

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

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

From Grapplers to Soccer Talents

Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical reputation among fight fans for generating a host of UFC champions in recent years.

The area has a rich history in grappling, thriving in the sambo discipline and creating numerous Olympic and world champions.

This success is not a coincidence, however, as youth from the region are frequently pushed to begin combat sports, particularly wrestling, practically as soon as they can walk.

"When I was a kid, my dad was always instructing me and my little brothers that we needed to be strong, first to protect yourself, your relatives, and your friends," states Ibragim.

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

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

"Some of the footballers he comes up against lack the identical base he has. That's why he's stocky, powerful and really driven – because of wrestling."

Amir was only nine years old when he was put through his paces at Sheffield United. Unaware of his real age, trainers placed him with boys five years older.

He was unfazed 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 same age, apparently," says Ibragim.

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

The family's stay in South Yorkshire was brief, though, 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," recalls Ibragim.

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

Half a dozen years after signing for the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir was one of the youngest players in the club's records to practice with the first team when he achieved this in April 2023.

"Do you know what he said to me? 'This is where I should be'," Ibragim says.

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

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

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

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

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

'A Dream' to Fight at the Theatre of Dreams

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

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

"I would never have imagined I would be learning 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."

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

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

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 had a PlayStation at home and I constantly used to play as Man United, scoring goals with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he recalls.

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

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