🔗 Share this article Those Siblings from the Dagestani Region Excelling in Mixed Martial Arts and with Manchester United. Ibragim Ibragimov began his professional MMA journey in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he reflects on how his clan's life has evolved since relocating to England from Dagestan eight years ago. "I love it here," the PFL competitor states. "My father and I often say, 'this was the nation I should have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his home in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father was convinced a move covering more than 3,000 miles promised superior career opportunities for him and his brothers. The original plan was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to finish school before joining one of the country's universities. But, life now looks somewhat distinct for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a professional mixed martial arts athlete and is seen as one of the top prospects in the PFL, a prominent MMA league. His brothers have chosen a different route in athletics and have each been signed by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a spot in the senior squad. "Our key thing for us is to squeeze everything from our sports," explains Ibragim. "I want them to represent every one of the finest teams in the world. Today it is Man United, in the future it could be a another team." Starting as Grapplers to Football Prodigies Three of Ibragim's brothers, including Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical status among combat sports enthusiasts for producing a slew of UFC champions in recent years. The area has a rich tradition in grappling, thriving in the combat sambo discipline and producing a host of Olympic and world winners. This achievement is not a coincidence, though, as youth from the region are often pushed to begin combat sports, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk. "As a a kid, my dad was always instructing me and my little brothers that we had to be strong, firstly to defend yourself, your family, and your companions," says Ibragim. "Therefore we all got used to combat, and that's why people understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise." "Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can observe the transition from wrestling to football; clearly, it helped my younger brothers a great deal." "Some of the footballers he comes up against don't have the same foundation he possesses. That's why he's solid, powerful and incredibly competitive – because of wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was put through his paces 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 capable holding his own against older players because of his experience in wrestling. "They thought Amir and I were the same age, so the story goes," remarks Ibragim. Amir was signed, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The clan's time in South Yorkshire was short-lived, though, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he moved across the Pennines as a result. "They faced Manchester United in a tournament and Amir scored a brilliant free-kick," recalls Ibragim. "One of their talent spotters 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 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 reveals. "Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They need to let all the young players play right now." "I don't think they would play less effectively than the current first-team players. I believe the youngsters are hungrier than the current squad members." Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the younger once part of the academy of Manchester City, have also made the move to Manchester United. "Gazik, this youngster is talented," continues Ibragim. "He learned everything faster than everyone else. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'A Dream' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams Ibragimov has been training with the Nurmagomedovs – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has now moved to Manchester and dedicates most of his days honing his MMA skills at a local gym. In August, he passed three weeks in his native region at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, helping Islam Makhachev prepare for a late-year UFC championship bout. "I never have imagined I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim says. "He was the best 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 champions from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is desperate to win a world title of his own someday. But that does not prevent him from occasionally fantasizing of representing United and walking out on the historic 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 legendary players," he recalls. "Now, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's like a fantasy realized." "An event at Old Trafford? It's a dream for me. I was discussing with the PFL guys about it to see if they would do it. It would be huge."
Ibragim Ibragimov began his professional MMA journey in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he reflects on how his clan's life has evolved since relocating to England from Dagestan eight years ago. "I love it here," the PFL competitor states. "My father and I often say, 'this was the nation I should have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his home in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father was convinced a move covering more than 3,000 miles promised superior career opportunities for him and his brothers. The original plan was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to finish school before joining one of the country's universities. But, life now looks somewhat distinct for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a professional mixed martial arts athlete and is seen as one of the top prospects in the PFL, a prominent MMA league. His brothers have chosen a different route in athletics and have each been signed by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a spot in the senior squad. "Our key thing for us is to squeeze everything from our sports," explains Ibragim. "I want them to represent every one of the finest teams in the world. Today it is Man United, in the future it could be a another team." Starting as Grapplers to Football Prodigies Three of Ibragim's brothers, including Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical status among combat sports enthusiasts for producing a slew of UFC champions in recent years. The area has a rich tradition in grappling, thriving in the combat sambo discipline and producing a host of Olympic and world winners. This achievement is not a coincidence, though, as youth from the region are often pushed to begin combat sports, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk. "As a a kid, my dad was always instructing me and my little brothers that we had to be strong, firstly to defend yourself, your family, and your companions," says Ibragim. "Therefore we all got used to combat, and that's why people understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise." "Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can observe the transition from wrestling to football; clearly, it helped my younger brothers a great deal." "Some of the footballers he comes up against don't have the same foundation he possesses. That's why he's solid, powerful and incredibly competitive – because of wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was put through his paces 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 capable holding his own against older players because of his experience in wrestling. "They thought Amir and I were the same age, so the story goes," remarks Ibragim. Amir was signed, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The clan's time in South Yorkshire was short-lived, though, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he moved across the Pennines as a result. "They faced Manchester United in a tournament and Amir scored a brilliant free-kick," recalls Ibragim. "One of their talent spotters 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 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 reveals. "Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They need to let all the young players play right now." "I don't think they would play less effectively than the current first-team players. I believe the youngsters are hungrier than the current squad members." Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the younger once part of the academy of Manchester City, have also made the move to Manchester United. "Gazik, this youngster is talented," continues Ibragim. "He learned everything faster than everyone else. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'A Dream' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams Ibragimov has been training with the Nurmagomedovs – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has now moved to Manchester and dedicates most of his days honing his MMA skills at a local gym. In August, he passed three weeks in his native region at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, helping Islam Makhachev prepare for a late-year UFC championship bout. "I never have imagined I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim says. "He was the best 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 champions from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is desperate to win a world title of his own someday. But that does not prevent him from occasionally fantasizing of representing United and walking out on the historic 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 legendary players," he recalls. "Now, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's like a fantasy realized." "An event at Old Trafford? It's a dream for me. I was discussing with the PFL guys about it to see if they would do it. It would be huge."