🔗 Share this article The Siblings from the Dagestani Region Excelling in MMA and at Man Utd. Ibragim Ibragimov started his professional MMA career in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he considers how his clan's life has evolved since moving to England from Dagestan a decade ago. "I adore it here," the PFL competitor declares. "My father and I always comment, 'this was the country I should 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 professional 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 enrolling in one of the nation's universities. However, reality now looks slightly distinct for the Ibragimov family. Ibragim is now a pro mixed martial arts athlete and is viewed as one of the leading talents in the PFL, a prominent MMA organization. His siblings have taken a separate path in sport and have all been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir pushing for a place in the senior squad. "The primary goal for us is to extract the maximum from our sports," explains Ibragim. "I want them to play for every one of the top teams in the world. Now it is Man United, in the future it might be a another team." Starting as Grapplers to Soccer Prodigies Three of Ibragim's siblings, including Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan has a mythical status among fight enthusiasts for producing a slew of UFC titleholders in recent years. The region has a long history in wrestling, thriving in the sambo discipline and producing numerous Olympic and world winners. This success is no accident, however, as youth from the region are frequently encouraged to begin fighting, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk. "When I was a kid, my dad was always instructing me and my younger brothers that we needed to be strong, first to protect ourselves, your family, and your companions," says Ibragim. "So we all became accustomed to fighting, and that's why everyone 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 helped my little brothers a lot." "Some of the footballers he comes up against lack the same base he has. That's why he's solid, strong and really competitive – because of wrestling." Amir was just nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Unaware of his real age, trainers grouped him with boys five years older. He was not intimidated by the oversight and was more than capable holding his own against older players thanks to his experience in wrestling. "They believed Amir and I were the identical age, so the story goes," says Ibragim. Amir was recruited, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The family's stay in South Yorkshire was short-lived, though, as just weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he moved across the Pennines consequently. "They faced Manchester United in a competition and Amir netted a brilliant free-kick," recalls Ibragim. "One of their scouts saw him play and selected him immediately." Half a dozen years after joining the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the most youthful players in the club's records to practice with the first team when he did so in April 2023. "Do you know what he told me? 'This is where I should be'," Ibragim reveals. "Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They should allow all the young players play now." "I don't think they would play less effectively than the existing starters. I believe the young guys are hungrier than the current squad members." Since then, 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 learned everything quicker than the others. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'A Goal' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams Ibragimov has been training with the Nurmagomedov family – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has also relocated to Manchester and dedicates most of his days sharpening his MMA abilities at a local gym. In August, he passed three weeks in his native region at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, helping Islam Makhachev get ready for a November UFC title fight. "I never have thought I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim says. "He was the greatest fighter in the world – and we always used to look up to him when we were growing up." "Now, I'm here in his gym and training with Islam Makhachev." Recently working with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is eager to win a world title of his own someday. However that does not stop him from occasionally dreaming of playing for 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 goals with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," 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 could do it. It would be enormous."
Ibragim Ibragimov started his professional MMA career in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he considers how his clan's life has evolved since moving to England from Dagestan a decade ago. "I adore it here," the PFL competitor declares. "My father and I always comment, 'this was the country I should 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 professional 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 enrolling in one of the nation's universities. However, reality now looks slightly distinct for the Ibragimov family. Ibragim is now a pro mixed martial arts athlete and is viewed as one of the leading talents in the PFL, a prominent MMA organization. His siblings have taken a separate path in sport and have all been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir pushing for a place in the senior squad. "The primary goal for us is to extract the maximum from our sports," explains Ibragim. "I want them to play for every one of the top teams in the world. Now it is Man United, in the future it might be a another team." Starting as Grapplers to Soccer Prodigies Three of Ibragim's siblings, including Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan has a mythical status among fight enthusiasts for producing a slew of UFC titleholders in recent years. The region has a long history in wrestling, thriving in the sambo discipline and producing numerous Olympic and world winners. This success is no accident, however, as youth from the region are frequently encouraged to begin fighting, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk. "When I was a kid, my dad was always instructing me and my younger brothers that we needed to be strong, first to protect ourselves, your family, and your companions," says Ibragim. "So we all became accustomed to fighting, and that's why everyone 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 helped my little brothers a lot." "Some of the footballers he comes up against lack the same base he has. That's why he's solid, strong and really competitive – because of wrestling." Amir was just nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Unaware of his real age, trainers grouped him with boys five years older. He was not intimidated by the oversight and was more than capable holding his own against older players thanks to his experience in wrestling. "They believed Amir and I were the identical age, so the story goes," says Ibragim. Amir was recruited, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The family's stay in South Yorkshire was short-lived, though, as just weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he moved across the Pennines consequently. "They faced Manchester United in a competition and Amir netted a brilliant free-kick," recalls Ibragim. "One of their scouts saw him play and selected him immediately." Half a dozen years after joining the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the most youthful players in the club's records to practice with the first team when he did so in April 2023. "Do you know what he told me? 'This is where I should be'," Ibragim reveals. "Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They should allow all the young players play now." "I don't think they would play less effectively than the existing starters. I believe the young guys are hungrier than the current squad members." Since then, 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 learned everything quicker than the others. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'A Goal' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams Ibragimov has been training with the Nurmagomedov family – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has also relocated to Manchester and dedicates most of his days sharpening his MMA abilities at a local gym. In August, he passed three weeks in his native region at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, helping Islam Makhachev get ready for a November UFC title fight. "I never have thought I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim says. "He was the greatest fighter in the world – and we always used to look up to him when we were growing up." "Now, I'm here in his gym and training with Islam Makhachev." Recently working with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is eager to win a world title of his own someday. However that does not stop him from occasionally dreaming of playing for 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 goals with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," 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 could do it. It would be enormous."