🔗 Share this article Those Siblings from the Dagestani Region Excelling in Mixed Martial Arts and with Manchester United. Ibragim Ibragimov started his pro MMA career in 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he considers how his family's life has changed since moving to England from Dagestan eight years ago. "I am fond of it here," the PFL competitor remarks. "My father and I frequently say, 'this is the nation I ought to have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia because his father believed a move spanning more than 3,000 miles offered better career 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 their education before joining one of the nation's universities. But, life now looks slightly different for the Ibragimov family. Ibragim is now a professional mixed martial arts athlete and is viewed as one of the top talents in the PFL, a prominent MMA organization. His brothers have taken a different route in sport and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a position in the senior squad. "The main goal for us is to squeeze everything out of our sports," says Ibragim. "I desire them to represent every one of the best teams in the world. Today it is Man United, tomorrow it could be a different team." Starting as Wrestlers to Soccer Prodigies Three of Ibragim's siblings, featuring Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan has a mythical status among combat sports fans for generating a slew of UFC titleholders in the past few years. The region has a rich tradition in wrestling, excelling in the combat sambo discipline and creating numerous Olympic and world winners. This achievement is not a coincidence, though, as youth from the region are frequently pushed to begin fighting, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can stand. "When I was young, my dad was constantly telling me and my younger brothers that we had to be strong, first to protect yourself, 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 not a surprise." "Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can observe the move from wrestling to football; clearly, it helped my younger brothers a lot." "Many of the footballers he faces don't have the identical foundation he has. That's why he's solid, strong and really driven – due to wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Unaware of his real age, coaches grouped him with boys five years older. He was not intimidated by the oversight and was perfectly capable competing against older players because of his experience in wrestling. "They believed Amir and I were the same age, apparently," says Ibragim. Amir was recruited, together with Ibragim's little brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The family's stay in South Yorkshire was short-lived, however, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's talent and he moved over the Pennines consequently. "They played Manchester United in a competition and Amir netted a spectacular free-kick," says Ibragim. "One of their talent spotters saw him play and picked him straight away." Six years after signing for the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir was 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 told me? 'This is where I should be'," Ibragim reveals. "Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Absolutely. They should let all the young players play now." "I don't think they would play worse than the current starters. I believe the youngsters are more motivated than the current 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 kid is gifted," continues Ibragim. "He picked up everything quicker than the others. He's a solid defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'The Goal' to Compete at Old Trafford Ibragimov has been working out with the Nurmagomedov family – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. 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, assisting 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 best fighter in the world – and we always used to idolize him when we were young." "Today, I'm here in his gym and sparring alongside Islam Makhachev." Recently training with two UFC champions from Dagestan, it is unsurprising Ibragim states he is desperate to win a world title of his own one day. But that does not stop him from occasionally fantasizing of playing for United and stepping out on the hallowed 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. "Today, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a fantasy realized." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a ambition for me. I was speaking to the PFL officials about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be enormous."
Ibragim Ibragimov started his pro MMA career in 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he considers how his family's life has changed since moving to England from Dagestan eight years ago. "I am fond of it here," the PFL competitor remarks. "My father and I frequently say, 'this is the nation I ought to have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia because his father believed a move spanning more than 3,000 miles offered better career 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 their education before joining one of the nation's universities. But, life now looks slightly different for the Ibragimov family. Ibragim is now a professional mixed martial arts athlete and is viewed as one of the top talents in the PFL, a prominent MMA organization. His brothers have taken a different route in sport and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a position in the senior squad. "The main goal for us is to squeeze everything out of our sports," says Ibragim. "I desire them to represent every one of the best teams in the world. Today it is Man United, tomorrow it could be a different team." Starting as Wrestlers to Soccer Prodigies Three of Ibragim's siblings, featuring Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan has a mythical status among combat sports fans for generating a slew of UFC titleholders in the past few years. The region has a rich tradition in wrestling, excelling in the combat sambo discipline and creating numerous Olympic and world winners. This achievement is not a coincidence, though, as youth from the region are frequently pushed to begin fighting, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can stand. "When I was young, my dad was constantly telling me and my younger brothers that we had to be strong, first to protect yourself, 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 not a surprise." "Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can observe the move from wrestling to football; clearly, it helped my younger brothers a lot." "Many of the footballers he faces don't have the identical foundation he has. That's why he's solid, strong and really driven – due to wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Unaware of his real age, coaches grouped him with boys five years older. He was not intimidated by the oversight and was perfectly capable competing against older players because of his experience in wrestling. "They believed Amir and I were the same age, apparently," says Ibragim. Amir was recruited, together with Ibragim's little brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The family's stay in South Yorkshire was short-lived, however, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's talent and he moved over the Pennines consequently. "They played Manchester United in a competition and Amir netted a spectacular free-kick," says Ibragim. "One of their talent spotters saw him play and picked him straight away." Six years after signing for the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir was 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 told me? 'This is where I should be'," Ibragim reveals. "Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Absolutely. They should let all the young players play now." "I don't think they would play worse than the current starters. I believe the youngsters are more motivated than the current 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 kid is gifted," continues Ibragim. "He picked up everything quicker than the others. He's a solid defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'The Goal' to Compete at Old Trafford Ibragimov has been working out with the Nurmagomedov family – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. 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, assisting 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 best fighter in the world – and we always used to idolize him when we were young." "Today, I'm here in his gym and sparring alongside Islam Makhachev." Recently training with two UFC champions from Dagestan, it is unsurprising Ibragim states he is desperate to win a world title of his own one day. But that does not stop him from occasionally fantasizing of playing for United and stepping out on the hallowed 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. "Today, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a fantasy realized." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a ambition for me. I was speaking to the PFL officials about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be enormous."