Those Brothers from Dagestan Excelling in Mixed Martial Arts and at Manchester United.

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

"I love it here," the Professional Fighters League star declares.

"We frequently remark, 'this was the nation I should have been born in.'"

The young man left his home in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father was convinced a move spanning more than 3,000 miles promised better career opportunities for him and his brothers.

The original idea 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 universities.

However, reality has turned out slightly different for the Ibragimov family.

Ibragim is now a pro mixed martial arts athlete and is seen as one of the prime prospects in the PFL, a major MMA league.

His siblings have taken a different path in athletics and have all been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir pushing for a place in the first team.

"The main goal for us is to extract the maximum from our sports," says Ibragim.

"I hope them to represent all of the finest teams in the world. Today it is Man United, tomorrow it could be a another team."

From Wrestlers to Soccer Prodigies

Located in southern Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical status among combat sports enthusiasts for generating a number of UFC champions in recent years.

The region has a rich history in wrestling, thriving in the sambo discipline and creating numerous Olympic and world champions.

This success is not a coincidence, however, as children from the region are frequently encouraged to take up fighting, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk.

"When I was young, my dad was constantly telling me and my younger brothers that we had to be strong, firstly to protect yourself, your relatives, and your friends," says Ibragim.

"Therefore we all became accustomed to fighting, and that's 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 helped my little brothers a great deal."

"Some of the players he faces lack the identical base he has. That's why he's stocky, strong and really competitive – due to wrestling."

Amir was only nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Not knowing of his real age, trainers placed him with boys five years older.

He was unfazed by the oversight and was more than capable competing against older players thanks to his experience in wrestling.

"They believed Amir and I were the same age, apparently," says Ibragim.

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

The family's time 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 transferred across the Pennines consequently.

"They faced Manchester United in a competition and Amir scored a brilliant free-kick," says 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 became one of the most youthful players in the club's records to practice with the senior side when he did so in April 2023.

"Do you know what he told me? 'Here is where I belong'," Ibragim says.

"Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? Absolutely. They need to allow all the young players play now."

"In my opinion they would play worse than the current starters. I believe the young guys are hungrier than the present first-team players."

Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once part of the academy of Manchester City, have likewise made the move to Manchester United.

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

"He picked up everything quicker than the others. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'The Goal' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams

Ibragim has also 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, helping Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC title fight.

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

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

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

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

But that does not stop him from sometimes dreaming of playing for United and walking out on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, similar to his brothers.

"I owned a PlayStation at home and I constantly used to play as Man United, scoring goals with legendary players," he recalls.

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

"A fight at Old Trafford? It's a ambition for me. I was speaking to the PFL guys about it to see if they would make it happen. It would be massive."