Those Siblings from Dagestan Excelling in MMA and with Manchester United.

Ibragim Ibragimov breaks into a smile as he reflects on how his clan's life has changed since relocating to England from Dagestan in 2017.

"I am fond of it here," the PFL athlete declares.

"My father and I often comment, 'this is the country I should have been born in.'"

The 21-year-old left his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father believed a relocation spanning more than 3,000 miles offered better professional prospects for him and his siblings.

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

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

Ibragim is now a pro mixed martial arts athlete and is regarded as one of the leading talents in the PFL, a leading MMA league.

His siblings have taken a separate route in sport and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a spot in the first team.

"Our key thing for us is to squeeze everything out of our chosen fields," explains Ibragim.

"I desire them to represent every one of the finest teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it could be a another team."

From Grapplers to Soccer Talents

Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan has a mythical status among fight fans for producing a number of UFC champions in the past few years.

The region has a rich tradition in wrestling, excelling in the combat sambo style and creating numerous Olympic and world winners.

This success is no accident, though, as youth from the region are often encouraged to take up combat sports, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk.

"When I was a kid, my dad was always telling me and my younger brothers that we needed to be powerful, firstly to protect yourself, your relatives, and your companions," states Ibragim.

"So we all became accustomed to fighting, and which is why people 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; obviously, it benefited my little brothers a lot."

"Some of the players he comes up against don't have the same base he has. That's why he's solid, strong and really driven – due to wrestling."

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

He was unfazed by the oversight and was more than comfortable holding his own against older players thanks to his background in wrestling.

"They thought Amir and I were the same age, so the story goes," remarks Ibragim.

Amir was signed, along with Ibragim's little brothers Gazik and Muhammad.

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

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

"One of their scouts saw him play and picked him immediately."

Six 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 senior side when he achieved this in April 2023.

"Know what he told me? 'Here is where I should be'," Ibragim reveals.

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

"In my opinion they would play worse than the existing first-team players. I believe the young guys are more motivated than the current squad members."

Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter 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 everything faster than everyone else. He's a solid defender. He's going to be similar to a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'The Goal' to Compete at Old Trafford

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

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

"I would never have imagined I would be learning under Khabib," Ibragim says.

"He was the greatest fighter in the world – and we constantly used to idolize him when we were growing up."

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

Fresh from working with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is unsurprising Ibragim states he is desperate to win a world title of his own someday.

But that does not stop him from occasionally dreaming of playing for 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 goals with legendary players," he recalls.

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

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