🔗 Share this article The Brothers from Dagestan Excelling in Mixed Martial Arts and at Man Utd. Ibragim Ibragimov started his pro MMA journey in 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he reflects on how his clan's life has evolved since relocating to England from Dagestan in 2017. "I adore it here," the Professional Fighters League competitor declares. "We often comment, 'this was the nation I should have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his homeland in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father believed a move spanning more than 3,000 miles would provide superior professional opportunities for him and his siblings. The initial idea was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to finish school before joining one of the nation's universities. However, life has turned out somewhat different for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a pro MMA athlete and is viewed as one of the top prospects in the PFL, a leading MMA league. His siblings have taken a separate path in athletics and have each been signed by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a position in the first team. "The primary thing for us is to squeeze everything from our chosen fields," says Ibragim. "I want them to play for all of the finest teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a different team." From Grapplers to Football Talents Three of Ibragim's brothers, featuring Amir (left), have been signed by Manchester United. Situated in the south of Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical reputation among combat sports enthusiasts for producing a host of UFC titleholders in the past few years. The region has a long tradition in grappling, thriving in the combat sambo discipline and producing a host of Olympic and world winners. This success is not a coincidence, however, as children from the region are frequently pushed to take up combat sports, particularly wrestling, practically as soon as they can walk. "When I was a kid, my dad was constantly telling me and my little brothers that we had to be powerful, first to protect yourself, your relatives, and your companions," states Ibragim. "Therefore we all got used to combat, and which is why everyone knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can observe the transition from wrestling to football; clearly, it benefited my little brothers a lot." "Many of the footballers he faces lack the identical foundation he has. That's why he's stocky, strong and really 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, trainers placed him with boys five years older. He was unfazed by the mistake and was more than capable competing against older players because of his experience in wrestling. "They believed Amir and I were the same age, apparently," remarks Ibragim. Amir was recruited, together with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The family's stay in South Yorkshire was brief, though, as only weeks after joining the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's ability and he moved across the Pennines consequently. "They played Manchester United in a competition and Amir scored a brilliant free-kick," says Ibragim. "One of their scouts watched him play and picked him straight away." Six years after signing for the Old Trafford 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 did so in April 2023. "Know what he said to me? 'This is where I should be'," Ibragim says. "Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They should allow all the youthful players get game time right now." "In my opinion they would play worse than the existing first-team players. I believe the youngsters are hungrier than the present first-team players." 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 kid is talented," adds Ibragim. "He learned every skill faster than the others. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'A Goal' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams Ibragimov has been training with the Nurmagomedovs – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has also relocated to Manchester and dedicates most of his days honing his MMA abilities at Manchester Top Team. In August, he spent three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev prepare for a November UFC title fight. "I would never have imagined 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 training with Islam Makhachev." Fresh from training with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim says he is desperate to claim a world title of his own someday. But that does not prevent him from sometimes fantasizing of playing for United and walking 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 goals with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he recalls. "Now, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a dream come true." "An event at Old Trafford? It's a ambition for me. I was discussing with the PFL guys about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be massive."
Ibragim Ibragimov started his pro MMA journey in 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he reflects on how his clan's life has evolved since relocating to England from Dagestan in 2017. "I adore it here," the Professional Fighters League competitor declares. "We often comment, 'this was the nation I should have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his homeland in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father believed a move spanning more than 3,000 miles would provide superior professional opportunities for him and his siblings. The initial idea was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to finish school before joining one of the nation's universities. However, life has turned out somewhat different for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a pro MMA athlete and is viewed as one of the top prospects in the PFL, a leading MMA league. His siblings have taken a separate path in athletics and have each been signed by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a position in the first team. "The primary thing for us is to squeeze everything from our chosen fields," says Ibragim. "I want them to play for all of the finest teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a different team." From Grapplers to Football Talents Three of Ibragim's brothers, featuring Amir (left), have been signed by Manchester United. Situated in the south of Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical reputation among combat sports enthusiasts for producing a host of UFC titleholders in the past few years. The region has a long tradition in grappling, thriving in the combat sambo discipline and producing a host of Olympic and world winners. This success is not a coincidence, however, as children from the region are frequently pushed to take up combat sports, particularly wrestling, practically as soon as they can walk. "When I was a kid, my dad was constantly telling me and my little brothers that we had to be powerful, first to protect yourself, your relatives, and your companions," states Ibragim. "Therefore we all got used to combat, and which is why everyone knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can observe the transition from wrestling to football; clearly, it benefited my little brothers a lot." "Many of the footballers he faces lack the identical foundation he has. That's why he's stocky, strong and really 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, trainers placed him with boys five years older. He was unfazed by the mistake and was more than capable competing against older players because of his experience in wrestling. "They believed Amir and I were the same age, apparently," remarks Ibragim. Amir was recruited, together with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The family's stay in South Yorkshire was brief, though, as only weeks after joining the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's ability and he moved across the Pennines consequently. "They played Manchester United in a competition and Amir scored a brilliant free-kick," says Ibragim. "One of their scouts watched him play and picked him straight away." Six years after signing for the Old Trafford 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 did so in April 2023. "Know what he said to me? 'This is where I should be'," Ibragim says. "Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They should allow all the youthful players get game time right now." "In my opinion they would play worse than the existing first-team players. I believe the youngsters are hungrier than the present first-team players." 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 kid is talented," adds Ibragim. "He learned every skill faster than the others. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'A Goal' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams Ibragimov has been training with the Nurmagomedovs – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has also relocated to Manchester and dedicates most of his days honing his MMA abilities at Manchester Top Team. In August, he spent three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev prepare for a November UFC title fight. "I would never have imagined 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 training with Islam Makhachev." Fresh from training with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim says he is desperate to claim a world title of his own someday. But that does not prevent him from sometimes fantasizing of playing for United and walking 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 goals with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he recalls. "Now, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a dream come true." "An event at Old Trafford? It's a ambition for me. I was discussing with the PFL guys about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be massive."