The Brothers from the Dagestani Region Excelling in MMA and at Manchester United.

Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he thinks about how his clan's life has transformed since moving to England from Dagestan a decade ago.

"I adore it here," the Professional Fighters League competitor declares.

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

The 21-year-old left his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father was convinced a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles offered better career prospects for him and his brothers.

The original 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 universities.

But, life has turned out slightly different for the Ibragimov household.

Ibragim is now a pro MMA athlete and is seen as one of the prime talents in the PFL, a major MMA organization.

His siblings have chosen a separate route in sport and have each been signed by Manchester United – with Amir pushing for a position in the first team.

"The primary thing for us is to squeeze everything from our chosen fields," says Ibragim.

"I desire them to play for every one of the top teams in the world. Now it is Man United, in the future it could be a different team."

From Grapplers to Soccer Prodigies

Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan has a mystical reputation among combat sports fans for generating a slew of UFC champions in recent years.

The region has a long tradition in wrestling, thriving in the sambo discipline and creating numerous Olympic and world winners.

This achievement is not a coincidence, though, as children from the region are frequently encouraged to begin fighting, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk.

"As a young, my dad was always instructing me and my younger brothers that we had to be powerful, firstly to defend ourselves, your family, and your friends," says Ibragim.

"Therefore we all got used to combat, and that's why everyone understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising."

"Amir was a excellent wrestler. You can see the move from wrestling to football; obviously, it helped my little brothers a lot."

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

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

He was unfazed by the oversight and was perfectly comfortable competing against older players thanks to his experience in wrestling.

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

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

The family's time in South Yorkshire was brief, however, as just weeks after joining 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 competition and Amir scored a brilliant free-kick," says Ibragim.

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

Six years after joining the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir was one of the youngest players in the club's records to train with the senior side when he achieved this in April 2023.

"Know what he said to me? 'This is where I belong'," Ibragim reveals.

"Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They need to let all the young players play right now."

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

Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the younger once part of the academy of Manchester City, have likewise made the move 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 like a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'The Goal' to Compete at Old Trafford

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

In August, he passed three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, helping Islam Makhachev get ready for a November UFC championship bout.

"I would never have thought 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 titleholders from Dagestan, it is unsurprising 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 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 with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he says.

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

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