🔗 Share this article Those Brothers from Dagestan Excelling in MMA and with Man Utd. Ibragim Ibragimov started his professional MMA journey in 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov breaks into a smile as he considers how his clan's life has transformed since relocating to England from Dagestan eight years ago. "I adore it here," the Professional Fighters League competitor states. "My father and I frequently comment, 'this was the nation I should have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his home in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father was convinced a move spanning more than 3,000 miles would provide better professional opportunities for him and his brothers. The initial plan was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to finish school before joining one of the country's colleges. However, reality now looks slightly different for the Ibragimov family. Ibragim is now a pro MMA fighter and is viewed as one of the prime prospects 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 vying for a place in the senior squad. "The primary goal for us is to extract the maximum from our chosen fields," says Ibragim. "I hope them to represent all of the top teams in the world. Today it is Man United, in the future it could be a another team." From Wrestlers to Soccer Prodigies Three of Ibragim's siblings, featuring Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Located in southern Russia, Dagestan has a mythical status among fight enthusiasts for producing a number of UFC titleholders in recent years. The region has a rich history in wrestling, excelling in the combat sambo style and producing a host of Olympic and world champions. This success is not a coincidence, though, as children from the region are frequently encouraged to take up combat sports, 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 powerful, first to protect ourselves, your family, and your companions," states Ibragim. "Therefore we all got used to fighting, and that's why people knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can see the move from wrestling to football; obviously, it assisted my little brothers a lot." "Some of the footballers he faces don't have the same foundation he possesses. That's why he's solid, powerful and really driven – due to wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was put through his paces at Sheffield United. Unaware of his real age, coaches grouped him with boys five years older. He was unfazed by the oversight and was perfectly capable competing against older players because of his experience 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 clan's stay in South Yorkshire was brief, though, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he transferred over the Pennines as a result. "They played Manchester United in a tournament and Amir netted a spectacular free-kick," recalls Ibragim. "One of their talent spotters saw him play and selected him straight away." Six years after signing for the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir was one of the youngest players in the club's records to train with the first team when he did so in April 2023. "Know what he said to me? 'Here is where I should be'," Ibragim reveals. "Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They should allow all the youthful players play right now." "In my opinion they would play worse than the current starters. I think the youngsters are more motivated than the current first-team players." Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once part of the academy of Manchester City, have also transferred to Manchester United. "Gazik, this youngster is talented," continues Ibragim. "He picked up everything quicker than everyone else. He's a solid defender. He's going to be like a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'A Dream' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams Ibragimov has been working out with the Nurmagomedov family – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has now moved to Manchester and dedicates most of his days sharpening his MMA skills at Manchester Top Team. In August, he spent three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, helping Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC championship bout. "I never have thought I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim admits. "He was the best fighter in the world – and we constantly used to look up to him when we were young." "Today, I'm here in his gym and training with Islam Makhachev." Fresh from training with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim says he is eager to claim a world title of his own one day. But that does not stop him from sometimes dreaming of representing United and stepping 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 Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he says. "Now, 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 guys about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be enormous."
Ibragim Ibragimov started his professional MMA journey in 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov breaks into a smile as he considers how his clan's life has transformed since relocating to England from Dagestan eight years ago. "I adore it here," the Professional Fighters League competitor states. "My father and I frequently comment, 'this was the nation I should have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his home in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father was convinced a move spanning more than 3,000 miles would provide better professional opportunities for him and his brothers. The initial plan was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to finish school before joining one of the country's colleges. However, reality now looks slightly different for the Ibragimov family. Ibragim is now a pro MMA fighter and is viewed as one of the prime prospects 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 vying for a place in the senior squad. "The primary goal for us is to extract the maximum from our chosen fields," says Ibragim. "I hope them to represent all of the top teams in the world. Today it is Man United, in the future it could be a another team." From Wrestlers to Soccer Prodigies Three of Ibragim's siblings, featuring Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Located in southern Russia, Dagestan has a mythical status among fight enthusiasts for producing a number of UFC titleholders in recent years. The region has a rich history in wrestling, excelling in the combat sambo style and producing a host of Olympic and world champions. This success is not a coincidence, though, as children from the region are frequently encouraged to take up combat sports, 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 powerful, first to protect ourselves, your family, and your companions," states Ibragim. "Therefore we all got used to fighting, and that's why people knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can see the move from wrestling to football; obviously, it assisted my little brothers a lot." "Some of the footballers he faces don't have the same foundation he possesses. That's why he's solid, powerful and really driven – due to wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was put through his paces at Sheffield United. Unaware of his real age, coaches grouped him with boys five years older. He was unfazed by the oversight and was perfectly capable competing against older players because of his experience 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 clan's stay in South Yorkshire was brief, though, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he transferred over the Pennines as a result. "They played Manchester United in a tournament and Amir netted a spectacular free-kick," recalls Ibragim. "One of their talent spotters saw him play and selected him straight away." Six years after signing for the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir was one of the youngest players in the club's records to train with the first team when he did so in April 2023. "Know what he said to me? 'Here is where I should be'," Ibragim reveals. "Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They should allow all the youthful players play right now." "In my opinion they would play worse than the current starters. I think the youngsters are more motivated than the current first-team players." Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once part of the academy of Manchester City, have also transferred to Manchester United. "Gazik, this youngster is talented," continues Ibragim. "He picked up everything quicker than everyone else. He's a solid defender. He's going to be like a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'A Dream' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams Ibragimov has been working out with the Nurmagomedov family – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has now moved to Manchester and dedicates most of his days sharpening his MMA skills at Manchester Top Team. In August, he spent three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, helping Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC championship bout. "I never have thought I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim admits. "He was the best fighter in the world – and we constantly used to look up to him when we were young." "Today, I'm here in his gym and training with Islam Makhachev." Fresh from training with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim says he is eager to claim a world title of his own one day. But that does not stop him from sometimes dreaming of representing United and stepping 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 Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he says. "Now, 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 guys about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be enormous."