🔗 Share this article The Siblings from the Dagestani Region Making Their Mark in Mixed Martial Arts and with Man Utd. Ibragim Ibragimov started his professional MMA journey in 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he reflects on how his family's life has transformed since relocating to England from Dagestan in 2017. "I am fond of it here," the Professional Fighters League star declares. "We often comment, 'this is the country I ought to have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia because his father was convinced a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles would provide better professional prospects for him and his siblings. The original idea was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to complete their education before enrolling in one of the country's colleges. However, life now looks somewhat different for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a professional MMA athlete and is viewed as one of the prime prospects in the PFL, a prominent MMA organization. His brothers have chosen a different route in athletics and have each been signed by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a position in the first team. "The main thing for us is to extract the maximum from our chosen fields," explains Ibragim. "I want them to represent every one of the finest teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a another team." Starting as Wrestlers to Football Talents Three of Ibragim's brothers, featuring Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Located in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mystical status among fight fans for producing a number of UFC titleholders in recent years. The area has a long tradition in wrestling, thriving in the combat sambo discipline and producing a host of Olympic and world champions. This success is no accident, though, as youth from the region are frequently encouraged to take up fighting, specifically wrestling, practically as soon as they can walk. "When I was young, my dad was constantly telling me and my little brothers that we needed to be powerful, first to defend ourselves, your relatives, and your friends," says Ibragim. "Therefore we all got used to combat, and which is why everyone knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise." "Amir was a excellent wrestler. You can observe the move from wrestling to football; clearly, it benefited my little brothers a great deal." "Many of the players he faces lack the identical foundation he has. That's why he's stocky, strong and incredibly driven – due to wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was put through his paces at Sheffield United. Unaware of his actual age, coaches grouped him with boys five years older. He was unfazed by the mistake and was perfectly comfortable holding his own against older players thanks to his background in wrestling. "They thought Amir and I were the identical age, so the story goes," remarks Ibragim. Amir was recruited, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The clan's time in South Yorkshire was brief, however, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's ability and he transferred across the Pennines as a result. "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 selected him immediately." Half a dozen years after signing for the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the youngest players in the club's records to train with the first team when he achieved this in April 2023. "Know what he told 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 allow all the young players get game time now." "I don't think they would play less effectively than the current starters. I think the youngsters are more motivated than the current squad members." 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 gifted," continues Ibragim. "He picked up everything quicker than everyone else. He's a solid defender. He's going to be like a new 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 now relocated to Manchester and spends most of his days perfecting his MMA skills 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 title fight. "I never have imagined I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim says. "He was the greatest 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." Fresh from working with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is eager to claim a world title of his own someday. But that does not stop him from occasionally dreaming of playing for United and stepping out on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, similar to his brothers. "I had a PlayStation at home and I constantly used to play as Man United, scoring with legendary players," he says. "Today, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a fantasy realized." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a dream for me. I was discussing with the PFL officials about it to see if they would do it. It would be massive."
Ibragim Ibragimov started his professional MMA journey in 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he reflects on how his family's life has transformed since relocating to England from Dagestan in 2017. "I am fond of it here," the Professional Fighters League star declares. "We often comment, 'this is the country I ought to have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia because his father was convinced a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles would provide better professional prospects for him and his siblings. The original idea was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to complete their education before enrolling in one of the country's colleges. However, life now looks somewhat different for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a professional MMA athlete and is viewed as one of the prime prospects in the PFL, a prominent MMA organization. His brothers have chosen a different route in athletics and have each been signed by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a position in the first team. "The main thing for us is to extract the maximum from our chosen fields," explains Ibragim. "I want them to represent every one of the finest teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a another team." Starting as Wrestlers to Football Talents Three of Ibragim's brothers, featuring Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Located in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mystical status among fight fans for producing a number of UFC titleholders in recent years. The area has a long tradition in wrestling, thriving in the combat sambo discipline and producing a host of Olympic and world champions. This success is no accident, though, as youth from the region are frequently encouraged to take up fighting, specifically wrestling, practically as soon as they can walk. "When I was young, my dad was constantly telling me and my little brothers that we needed to be powerful, first to defend ourselves, your relatives, and your friends," says Ibragim. "Therefore we all got used to combat, and which is why everyone knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise." "Amir was a excellent wrestler. You can observe the move from wrestling to football; clearly, it benefited my little brothers a great deal." "Many of the players he faces lack the identical foundation he has. That's why he's stocky, strong and incredibly driven – due to wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was put through his paces at Sheffield United. Unaware of his actual age, coaches grouped him with boys five years older. He was unfazed by the mistake and was perfectly comfortable holding his own against older players thanks to his background in wrestling. "They thought Amir and I were the identical age, so the story goes," remarks Ibragim. Amir was recruited, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The clan's time in South Yorkshire was brief, however, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's ability and he transferred across the Pennines as a result. "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 selected him immediately." Half a dozen years after signing for the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the youngest players in the club's records to train with the first team when he achieved this in April 2023. "Know what he told 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 allow all the young players get game time now." "I don't think they would play less effectively than the current starters. I think the youngsters are more motivated than the current squad members." 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 gifted," continues Ibragim. "He picked up everything quicker than everyone else. He's a solid defender. He's going to be like a new 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 now relocated to Manchester and spends most of his days perfecting his MMA skills 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 title fight. "I never have imagined I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim says. "He was the greatest 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." Fresh from working with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is eager to claim a world title of his own someday. But that does not stop him from occasionally dreaming of playing for United and stepping out on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, similar to his brothers. "I had a PlayStation at home and I constantly used to play as Man United, scoring with legendary players," he says. "Today, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a fantasy realized." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a dream for me. I was discussing with the PFL officials about it to see if they would do it. It would be massive."