Those Siblings from the Dagestani Region Making Their Mark in MMA and at Manchester United.

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

"I love it here," the PFL star states.

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

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

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

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

Ibragim is now a pro MMA athlete and is seen as one of the prime prospects in the PFL, a leading MMA organization.

His brothers have chosen a different route in athletics and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir pushing for a spot in the first team.

"The primary goal for us is to squeeze everything from our sports," says Ibragim.

"I want them to play for all of the top teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a another team."

Starting as Wrestlers to Soccer Prodigies

Situated in the south of Russia, Dagestan holds a mythical status among combat sports enthusiasts for generating a slew of UFC titleholders in the past few years.

The region has a rich history in wrestling, excelling in the combat sambo discipline and producing a host of Olympic and world winners.

This achievement is no accident, though, as children from the region are often encouraged to take up fighting, particularly wrestling, practically as soon as they can stand.

"When I was a kid, my dad was constantly telling me and my little brothers that we had to be strong, first to protect ourselves, your relatives, and your friends," states Ibragim.

"So 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 excellent wrestler. You can see the transition from wrestling to football; clearly, it benefited my little brothers a great deal."

"Many of the players he comes up against don't have the identical foundation he possesses. That's why he's stocky, powerful and really competitive – due to wrestling."

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

He was not intimidated 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 identical age, apparently," says Ibragim.

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

The family's stay in South Yorkshire was short-lived, however, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's talent and he moved over the Pennines consequently.

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

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

Half a dozen years after signing for the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir was one of the most youthful players in the club's records to practice with the first team when he did so in April 2023.

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

"Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They should let all the youthful players play right now."

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

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

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

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

'A Goal' to Fight at the Theatre of Dreams

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

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

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

"He was the best fighter in the world – and we always used to idolize him when we were young."

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

Recently working with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is eager to win a world title of his own one day.

However that does not stop him from occasionally 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 always used to play as Man United, scoring with legendary players," he recalls.

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

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