🔗 Share this article The Brothers from the Dagestani Region Making Their Mark in Mixed Martial Arts and at Manchester United. Ibragim Ibragimov embarked on his pro MMA career in 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he reflects on how his clan's life has evolved since relocating to England from Dagestan in 2017. "I adore it here," the PFL star declares. "We always say, 'this is the nation I should have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his homeland in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father believed a relocation spanning more than 3,000 miles promised superior career prospects 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 joining one of the country's universities. But, reality now looks somewhat different for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a professional mixed martial arts athlete and is seen as one of the prime prospects in the PFL, a prominent MMA organization. His siblings have chosen a different path in athletics and have all been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a position in the senior squad. "Our key goal for us is to squeeze everything out of our chosen fields," explains Ibragim. "I hope them to play for every one of the best teams in the world. Now it is Man United, in the future it might be a another team." Starting as Wrestlers to Football Prodigies Three of Ibragim's siblings, featuring Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Located in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mythical reputation among combat sports fans for generating a number of UFC champions in the past few years. The region has a rich tradition in grappling, thriving in the sambo discipline and creating numerous Olympic and world champions. This success is not a coincidence, though, as youth from the region are frequently pushed to take up fighting, particularly wrestling, practically as soon as they can stand. "When I was young, my dad was constantly instructing me and my little brothers that we needed to be powerful, first to protect ourselves, your family, and your friends," states Ibragim. "So we all got used to fighting, and that's why everyone knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise." "Amir was a very good wrestler. You can see the move from wrestling to football; clearly, it assisted my little brothers a great deal." "Some of the players he faces don't have the identical base he has. That's why he's stocky, powerful and really driven – due to wrestling." Amir was just nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Unaware of his real age, coaches placed him with boys significantly 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," remarks Ibragim. Amir was recruited, together with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The family's stay in South Yorkshire was brief, however, as just 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 competition and Amir scored a spectacular free-kick," says Ibragim. "One of their talent spotters watched him play and picked him straight away." Six years after joining the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the most youthful players in the club's records to train with the first team when he did so in April 2023. "Know what he told me? 'Here is where I belong'," Ibragim says. "Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Absolutely. They need to let all the youthful players get game time now." "I don't think they would play less effectively than the current starters. I think the young guys are more motivated than the present first-team players." Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the younger once on the books of Manchester City, have likewise transferred to Manchester United. "Gazik, this kid is gifted," continues Ibragim. "He learned everything faster than everyone else. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'The Dream' to Fight at Old Trafford Ibragimov has been working out with the Nurmagomedovs – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has also relocated to Manchester and spends most of his days perfecting his MMA skills at a local gym. In August, he passed three weeks in his native region at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC title fight. "I never have imagined I would be learning under Khabib," Ibragim says. "He was the best fighter in the world – and we constantly used to idolize him when we were young." "Today, I'm here in his gym and sparring alongside Islam Makhachev." Fresh from training with two UFC champions from Dagestan, it is unsurprising Ibragim states he is eager to win a world title of his own one day. But that does not stop him from sometimes fantasizing of representing United and walking out on the historic 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 similar to a fantasy realized." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a goal for me. I was discussing with the PFL officials about it to see if they could do it. It would be massive."
Ibragim Ibragimov embarked on his pro MMA career in 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he reflects on how his clan's life has evolved since relocating to England from Dagestan in 2017. "I adore it here," the PFL star declares. "We always say, 'this is the nation I should have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his homeland in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father believed a relocation spanning more than 3,000 miles promised superior career prospects 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 joining one of the country's universities. But, reality now looks somewhat different for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a professional mixed martial arts athlete and is seen as one of the prime prospects in the PFL, a prominent MMA organization. His siblings have chosen a different path in athletics and have all been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a position in the senior squad. "Our key goal for us is to squeeze everything out of our chosen fields," explains Ibragim. "I hope them to play for every one of the best teams in the world. Now it is Man United, in the future it might be a another team." Starting as Wrestlers to Football Prodigies Three of Ibragim's siblings, featuring Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Located in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mythical reputation among combat sports fans for generating a number of UFC champions in the past few years. The region has a rich tradition in grappling, thriving in the sambo discipline and creating numerous Olympic and world champions. This success is not a coincidence, though, as youth from the region are frequently pushed to take up fighting, particularly wrestling, practically as soon as they can stand. "When I was young, my dad was constantly instructing me and my little brothers that we needed to be powerful, first to protect ourselves, your family, and your friends," states Ibragim. "So we all got used to fighting, and that's why everyone knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise." "Amir was a very good wrestler. You can see the move from wrestling to football; clearly, it assisted my little brothers a great deal." "Some of the players he faces don't have the identical base he has. That's why he's stocky, powerful and really driven – due to wrestling." Amir was just nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Unaware of his real age, coaches placed him with boys significantly 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," remarks Ibragim. Amir was recruited, together with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The family's stay in South Yorkshire was brief, however, as just 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 competition and Amir scored a spectacular free-kick," says Ibragim. "One of their talent spotters watched him play and picked him straight away." Six years after joining the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the most youthful players in the club's records to train with the first team when he did so in April 2023. "Know what he told me? 'Here is where I belong'," Ibragim says. "Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Absolutely. They need to let all the youthful players get game time now." "I don't think they would play less effectively than the current starters. I think the young guys are more motivated than the present first-team players." Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the younger once on the books of Manchester City, have likewise transferred to Manchester United. "Gazik, this kid is gifted," continues Ibragim. "He learned everything faster than everyone else. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'The Dream' to Fight at Old Trafford Ibragimov has been working out with the Nurmagomedovs – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has also relocated to Manchester and spends most of his days perfecting his MMA skills at a local gym. In August, he passed three weeks in his native region at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC title fight. "I never have imagined I would be learning under Khabib," Ibragim says. "He was the best fighter in the world – and we constantly used to idolize him when we were young." "Today, I'm here in his gym and sparring alongside Islam Makhachev." Fresh from training with two UFC champions from Dagestan, it is unsurprising Ibragim states he is eager to win a world title of his own one day. But that does not stop him from sometimes fantasizing of representing United and walking out on the historic 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 similar to a fantasy realized." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a goal for me. I was discussing with the PFL officials about it to see if they could do it. It would be massive."