🔗 Share this article The Siblings from the Dagestani Region Making Their Mark in MMA and at Man Utd. Ibragim Ibragimov began his professional MMA career in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he considers how his clan's life has transformed since moving to England from Dagestan a decade ago. "I adore it here," the PFL athlete remarks. "My father and I often say, 'this was the nation I ought to have been born in.'" The 21-year-old departed his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia because his father was convinced a move spanning more than 3,000 miles would provide better career prospects 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, life now looks somewhat different for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a professional mixed martial arts fighter and is regarded as one of the leading talents in the PFL, a leading MMA organization. His siblings have chosen a separate path in sport and have all been signed by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a spot in the senior squad. "Our key goal for us is to squeeze everything out of our chosen fields," explains Ibragim. "I hope them to represent all of the finest teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a different team." Starting as Wrestlers to Soccer Talents Three of Ibragim's brothers, featuring Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Situated in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mystical reputation among fight fans for generating a slew of UFC champions in the past few years. The region has a long history in wrestling, thriving in the combat sambo discipline and creating a host of Olympic and world champions. This success is no accident, however, as children from the region are frequently pushed to take up fighting, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can stand. "When I was a kid, my dad was constantly telling me and my younger brothers that we needed to be strong, firstly to protect yourself, your relatives, and your friends," states Ibragim. "So we all got used to fighting, and which is why people understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a very good wrestler. You can see the transition from wrestling to football; obviously, it benefited my little brothers a lot." "Many of the footballers he comes up against don't have the same base he has. That's why he's stocky, strong and really competitive – because of wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Unaware of his real age, trainers grouped him with boys significantly older. He was not intimidated by the oversight and was perfectly capable competing against older players because of his background in wrestling. "They believed Amir and I were the identical age, so the story goes," remarks Ibragim. Amir was signed, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The clan's time in South Yorkshire was brief, though, as just weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's ability and he moved across the Pennines as a result. "They played Manchester United in a competition and Amir netted a brilliant free-kick," recalls Ibragim. "One of their talent spotters watched him play and selected him immediately." Half a dozen years after joining the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir was one of the most youthful players in the club's history to practice with the first team when he did so in April 2023. "Know what he said to me? 'This is where I should be'," Ibragim says. "Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? 100%. They need to allow all the youthful players play right now." "I don't think they would play worse than the current first-team players. I think the young guys are more motivated than the present squad members." Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once part of the academy 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 Goal' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams Ibragimov has been training with the Nurmagomedovs – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has now moved to Manchester and dedicates most of his days sharpening his MMA skills at a local gym. In August, he passed three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev prepare for a November UFC title fight. "I never have imagined I would be learning 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." Fresh from working with two UFC champions from Dagestan, it is unsurprising Ibragim states he is desperate to win a world title of his own one day. But that does not prevent him from occasionally dreaming of playing for United and stepping out on the historic turf at Old Trafford, much like his brothers. "I had a PlayStation at home and I always used to play as Man United, scoring goals with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he says. "Today, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a dream come true." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a dream for me. I was discussing with the PFL officials about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be enormous."
Ibragim Ibragimov began his professional MMA career in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he considers how his clan's life has transformed since moving to England from Dagestan a decade ago. "I adore it here," the PFL athlete remarks. "My father and I often say, 'this was the nation I ought to have been born in.'" The 21-year-old departed his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia because his father was convinced a move spanning more than 3,000 miles would provide better career prospects 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, life now looks somewhat different for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a professional mixed martial arts fighter and is regarded as one of the leading talents in the PFL, a leading MMA organization. His siblings have chosen a separate path in sport and have all been signed by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a spot in the senior squad. "Our key goal for us is to squeeze everything out of our chosen fields," explains Ibragim. "I hope them to represent all of the finest teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a different team." Starting as Wrestlers to Soccer Talents Three of Ibragim's brothers, featuring Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Situated in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mystical reputation among fight fans for generating a slew of UFC champions in the past few years. The region has a long history in wrestling, thriving in the combat sambo discipline and creating a host of Olympic and world champions. This success is no accident, however, as children from the region are frequently pushed to take up fighting, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can stand. "When I was a kid, my dad was constantly telling me and my younger brothers that we needed to be strong, firstly to protect yourself, your relatives, and your friends," states Ibragim. "So we all got used to fighting, and which is why people understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a very good wrestler. You can see the transition from wrestling to football; obviously, it benefited my little brothers a lot." "Many of the footballers he comes up against don't have the same base he has. That's why he's stocky, strong and really competitive – because of wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Unaware of his real age, trainers grouped him with boys significantly older. He was not intimidated by the oversight and was perfectly capable competing against older players because of his background in wrestling. "They believed Amir and I were the identical age, so the story goes," remarks Ibragim. Amir was signed, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The clan's time in South Yorkshire was brief, though, as just weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's ability and he moved across the Pennines as a result. "They played Manchester United in a competition and Amir netted a brilliant free-kick," recalls Ibragim. "One of their talent spotters watched him play and selected him immediately." Half a dozen years after joining the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir was one of the most youthful players in the club's history to practice with the first team when he did so in April 2023. "Know what he said to me? 'This is where I should be'," Ibragim says. "Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? 100%. They need to allow all the youthful players play right now." "I don't think they would play worse than the current first-team players. I think the young guys are more motivated than the present squad members." Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once part of the academy 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 Goal' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams Ibragimov has been training with the Nurmagomedovs – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has now moved to Manchester and dedicates most of his days sharpening his MMA skills at a local gym. In August, he passed three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev prepare for a November UFC title fight. "I never have imagined I would be learning 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." Fresh from working with two UFC champions from Dagestan, it is unsurprising Ibragim states he is desperate to win a world title of his own one day. But that does not prevent him from occasionally dreaming of playing for United and stepping out on the historic turf at Old Trafford, much like his brothers. "I had a PlayStation at home and I always used to play as Man United, scoring goals with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he says. "Today, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a dream come true." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a dream for me. I was discussing with the PFL officials about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be enormous."