🔗 Share this article Those Siblings from Dagestan Excelling in Mixed Martial Arts and with Manchester United. Ibragim Ibragimov started his professional MMA journey in 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he considers how his clan's life has transformed since moving to England from Dagestan in 2017. "I am fond of it here," the PFL athlete declares. "We often remark, 'this was the nation I should have been born in.'" The young man departed his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father believed a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles would provide superior professional opportunities for him and his brothers. The initial idea was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to complete school before enrolling in one of the nation's colleges. But, reality now looks slightly different for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a professional MMA fighter and is regarded as one of the prime talents in the PFL, a leading MMA organization. His brothers have taken a different path in sport and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a place in the first team. "The primary goal for us is to squeeze everything out of our chosen fields," says Ibragim. "I hope them to play for every one of the best teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a another team." Starting as Grapplers to Football Prodigies Three of Ibragim's siblings, including Amir (left), have been signed by Manchester United. Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical status among fight fans for generating a slew of UFC champions in the past few years. The region has a long tradition in wrestling, excelling in the sambo discipline and creating a host of Olympic and world champions. This success is not a coincidence, however, as youth from the region are often pushed to begin fighting, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk. "As a a kid, my dad was always instructing me and my younger brothers that we had to be powerful, first to defend yourself, your relatives, and your friends," states Ibragim. "Therefore we all got used to fighting, and which is why people knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a very good wrestler. You can see the transition from wrestling to football; clearly, it benefited my little brothers a great deal." "Some of the players he faces lack the same foundation he possesses. That's why he's stocky, powerful and incredibly competitive – due to wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Not knowing of his actual age, trainers placed him with boys significantly older. He was not intimidated by the oversight and was perfectly comfortable holding his own against older players because of his background in wrestling. "They thought Amir and I were the identical age, apparently," 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 only weeks after joining the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he moved across the Pennines consequently. "They faced Manchester United in a tournament and Amir netted a spectacular free-kick," says Ibragim. "One of their scouts watched him play and picked him straight away." Six years after signing for 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 achieved this in April 2023. "Do you know what he said to 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 get game time right now." "I don't think they would play less effectively than the existing first-team players. I think the youngsters are hungrier than the current squad members." Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once on the books of Manchester City, have also made the move to Manchester United. "Gazik, this kid is gifted," continues Ibragim. "He learned everything faster than the others. He's a good defender. He's going to be like a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'The Dream' to Fight at Old Trafford Ibragimov has been training with the Nurmagomedovs – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has now relocated to Manchester and spends most of his days sharpening his MMA skills at Manchester Top Team. In August, he spent three weeks in his native region at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, helping Islam Makhachev get ready for a November UFC championship bout. "I never have thought I would be learning under Khabib," Ibragim admits. "He was the best fighter in the world – and we constantly used to look up to him when we were growing up." "Now, I'm here in his gym and sparring alongside Islam Makhachev." Fresh from training with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is desperate to claim a world title of his own someday. But that does not prevent him from occasionally dreaming of playing for United and walking out on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, much like his brothers. "I had a PlayStation at home and I always used to play as Man United, scoring with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he says. "Now, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's like a dream come true." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a goal for me. I was discussing with the PFL officials about it to see if they would make it happen. It would be enormous."
Ibragim Ibragimov started his professional MMA journey in 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he considers how his clan's life has transformed since moving to England from Dagestan in 2017. "I am fond of it here," the PFL athlete declares. "We often remark, 'this was the nation I should have been born in.'" The young man departed his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father believed a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles would provide superior professional opportunities for him and his brothers. The initial idea was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to complete school before enrolling in one of the nation's colleges. But, reality now looks slightly different for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a professional MMA fighter and is regarded as one of the prime talents in the PFL, a leading MMA organization. His brothers have taken a different path in sport and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a place in the first team. "The primary goal for us is to squeeze everything out of our chosen fields," says Ibragim. "I hope them to play for every one of the best teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a another team." Starting as Grapplers to Football Prodigies Three of Ibragim's siblings, including Amir (left), have been signed by Manchester United. Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical status among fight fans for generating a slew of UFC champions in the past few years. The region has a long tradition in wrestling, excelling in the sambo discipline and creating a host of Olympic and world champions. This success is not a coincidence, however, as youth from the region are often pushed to begin fighting, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk. "As a a kid, my dad was always instructing me and my younger brothers that we had to be powerful, first to defend yourself, your relatives, and your friends," states Ibragim. "Therefore we all got used to fighting, and which is why people knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a very good wrestler. You can see the transition from wrestling to football; clearly, it benefited my little brothers a great deal." "Some of the players he faces lack the same foundation he possesses. That's why he's stocky, powerful and incredibly competitive – due to wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Not knowing of his actual age, trainers placed him with boys significantly older. He was not intimidated by the oversight and was perfectly comfortable holding his own against older players because of his background in wrestling. "They thought Amir and I were the identical age, apparently," 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 only weeks after joining the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he moved across the Pennines consequently. "They faced Manchester United in a tournament and Amir netted a spectacular free-kick," says Ibragim. "One of their scouts watched him play and picked him straight away." Six years after signing for 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 achieved this in April 2023. "Do you know what he said to 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 get game time right now." "I don't think they would play less effectively than the existing first-team players. I think the youngsters are hungrier than the current squad members." Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once on the books of Manchester City, have also made the move to Manchester United. "Gazik, this kid is gifted," continues Ibragim. "He learned everything faster than the others. He's a good defender. He's going to be like a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'The Dream' to Fight at Old Trafford Ibragimov has been training with the Nurmagomedovs – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has now relocated to Manchester and spends most of his days sharpening his MMA skills at Manchester Top Team. In August, he spent three weeks in his native region at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, helping Islam Makhachev get ready for a November UFC championship bout. "I never have thought I would be learning under Khabib," Ibragim admits. "He was the best fighter in the world – and we constantly used to look up to him when we were growing up." "Now, I'm here in his gym and sparring alongside Islam Makhachev." Fresh from training with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is desperate to claim a world title of his own someday. But that does not prevent him from occasionally dreaming of playing for United and walking out on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, much like his brothers. "I had a PlayStation at home and I always used to play as Man United, scoring with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he says. "Now, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's like a dream come true." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a goal for me. I was discussing with the PFL officials about it to see if they would make it happen. It would be enormous."