🔗 Share this article Those Brothers from the Dagestani Region Excelling in MMA and at Man Utd. Ibragim Ibragimov began his pro MMA journey in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov breaks into a smile as he reflects on how his clan's life has changed since moving to England from Dagestan eight years ago. "I am fond of it here," the Professional Fighters League star remarks. "My father and I frequently comment, 'this is the country I should have been born in.'" The young man left his home in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father was convinced a move spanning more than 3,000 miles offered superior professional prospects for him and his siblings. 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 nation's colleges. However, reality has turned out somewhat distinct for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a pro MMA athlete and is viewed as one of the top talents in the PFL, a leading MMA league. His siblings have taken a different path in athletics and have all been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a place in the senior squad. "Our key goal for us is to extract everything out of our chosen fields," says Ibragim. "I desire them to play for all of the finest teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it could be a another team." From Grapplers to Football Talents Three of Ibragim's siblings, including Amir (left), have been signed by Manchester United. Situated in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mythical status among combat sports fans for producing a slew of UFC titleholders in recent years. The area has a long history in grappling, excelling in the sambo discipline and producing a host of Olympic and world champions. This achievement is no accident, though, as youth from the region are frequently pushed to take up fighting, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can stand. "When I was young, my dad was constantly instructing me and my little brothers that we needed to be strong, firstly to defend yourself, your relatives, and your friends," states Ibragim. "So we all became accustomed to fighting, and which is why everyone knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a very good wrestler. You can observe the transition from wrestling to football; obviously, it helped my little brothers a lot." "Some of the footballers he faces lack the identical foundation he has. That's why he's stocky, strong and incredibly competitive – due to wrestling." Amir was just nine years old when he was put through his paces at Sheffield United. Not knowing of his actual age, trainers grouped him with boys significantly older. He was unfazed by the oversight and was more than comfortable holding his own against older players thanks to his experience in wrestling. "They thought Amir and I were the same age, apparently," says Ibragim. Amir was recruited, together with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The clan's stay in South Yorkshire was brief, however, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he moved over the Pennines consequently. "They faced Manchester United in a competition and Amir scored a brilliant free-kick," recalls Ibragim. "One of their scouts watched him play and picked him straight away." Six 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 train with the first team when he achieved this in April 2023. "Know what he said to me? 'This is where I should be'," Ibragim reveals. "Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? 100%. They need to allow all the young players get game time now." "In my opinion they would play worse than the current starters. I believe the youngsters are more motivated than the present squad members." Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once on the books of Manchester City, have also made the move to Manchester United. "Gazik, this youngster is talented," continues Ibragim. "He picked up everything quicker than everyone else. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'The Dream' to Fight at Old Trafford Ibragimov has been working out with the Nurmagomedovs – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has now 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, assisting Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC championship bout. "I never have thought I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim says. "He was the greatest fighter in the world – and we constantly used to idolize him when we were young." "Now, 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 eager to claim a world title of his own one day. But that does not prevent him from occasionally dreaming of representing United and stepping out on the historic turf at Old Trafford, much like his brothers. "I owned a PlayStation at home and I always 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 dream come true." "An event at Old Trafford? It's a goal for me. I was speaking to the PFL guys about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be huge."
Ibragim Ibragimov began his pro MMA journey in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov breaks into a smile as he reflects on how his clan's life has changed since moving to England from Dagestan eight years ago. "I am fond of it here," the Professional Fighters League star remarks. "My father and I frequently comment, 'this is the country I should have been born in.'" The young man left his home in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father was convinced a move spanning more than 3,000 miles offered superior professional prospects for him and his siblings. 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 nation's colleges. However, reality has turned out somewhat distinct for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a pro MMA athlete and is viewed as one of the top talents in the PFL, a leading MMA league. His siblings have taken a different path in athletics and have all been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a place in the senior squad. "Our key goal for us is to extract everything out of our chosen fields," says Ibragim. "I desire them to play for all of the finest teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it could be a another team." From Grapplers to Football Talents Three of Ibragim's siblings, including Amir (left), have been signed by Manchester United. Situated in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mythical status among combat sports fans for producing a slew of UFC titleholders in recent years. The area has a long history in grappling, excelling in the sambo discipline and producing a host of Olympic and world champions. This achievement is no accident, though, as youth from the region are frequently pushed to take up fighting, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can stand. "When I was young, my dad was constantly instructing me and my little brothers that we needed to be strong, firstly to defend yourself, your relatives, and your friends," states Ibragim. "So we all became accustomed to fighting, and which is why everyone knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a very good wrestler. You can observe the transition from wrestling to football; obviously, it helped my little brothers a lot." "Some of the footballers he faces lack the identical foundation he has. That's why he's stocky, strong and incredibly competitive – due to wrestling." Amir was just nine years old when he was put through his paces at Sheffield United. Not knowing of his actual age, trainers grouped him with boys significantly older. He was unfazed by the oversight and was more than comfortable holding his own against older players thanks to his experience in wrestling. "They thought Amir and I were the same age, apparently," says Ibragim. Amir was recruited, together with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The clan's stay in South Yorkshire was brief, however, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he moved over the Pennines consequently. "They faced Manchester United in a competition and Amir scored a brilliant free-kick," recalls Ibragim. "One of their scouts watched him play and picked him straight away." Six 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 train with the first team when he achieved this in April 2023. "Know what he said to me? 'This is where I should be'," Ibragim reveals. "Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? 100%. They need to allow all the young players get game time now." "In my opinion they would play worse than the current starters. I believe the youngsters are more motivated than the present squad members." Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once on the books of Manchester City, have also made the move to Manchester United. "Gazik, this youngster is talented," continues Ibragim. "He picked up everything quicker than everyone else. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'The Dream' to Fight at Old Trafford Ibragimov has been working out with the Nurmagomedovs – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has now 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, assisting Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC championship bout. "I never have thought I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim says. "He was the greatest fighter in the world – and we constantly used to idolize him when we were young." "Now, 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 eager to claim a world title of his own one day. But that does not prevent him from occasionally dreaming of representing United and stepping out on the historic turf at Old Trafford, much like his brothers. "I owned a PlayStation at home and I always 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 dream come true." "An event at Old Trafford? It's a goal for me. I was speaking to the PFL guys about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be huge."