The Siblings from Dagestan Excelling in Mixed Martial Arts and at Man Utd.

Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he reflects on how his family's life has evolved since relocating to England from Dagestan eight years ago.

"I adore it here," the Professional Fighters League athlete states.

"We always remark, 'this was the country I ought to have been born in.'"

The young man departed his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father was convinced a move spanning more than 3,000 miles offered superior professional opportunities for him and his siblings.

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

However, life now looks quite distinct for the Ibragimov family.

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

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

"The main goal for us is to extract the maximum out of our chosen fields," explains Ibragim.

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

Starting as Wrestlers to Football Prodigies

Located in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mythical reputation among combat sports enthusiasts for generating a host of UFC titleholders in recent years.

The region has a rich history in wrestling, thriving in the combat sambo discipline and producing numerous Olympic and world winners.

This success is not a coincidence, though, as children from the region are often encouraged to take up combat sports, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can stand.

"As a a kid, my dad was constantly telling me and my younger brothers that we had to be strong, firstly to defend yourself, your family, and your companions," says Ibragim.

"Therefore we all became accustomed to combat, and that's why people understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising."

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

"Some of the players he faces don't have the same base he possesses. That's why he's stocky, strong and really competitive – because of wrestling."

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

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

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

Amir was signed, along 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 became aware of Amir's talent and he moved across the Pennines as a result.

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

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

Half a dozen years after signing for the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the youngest players in the club's records to train with the senior side 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 young players get game time now."

"I don't think they would play worse than the existing starters. I believe the young guys are hungrier than the current squad members."

Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once on the books of Manchester City, have likewise transferred to Manchester United.

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

"He picked up everything faster than the others. He's a solid defender. He's going to be like a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'The Goal' to Fight at Old Trafford

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

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

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

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

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

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

However that does not prevent him from sometimes dreaming of representing United and stepping 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.

"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 speaking to the PFL guys about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be enormous."