🔗 Share this article The Brothers from the Dagestani Region Making Their Mark in Mixed Martial Arts and with Man Utd. Ibragim Ibragimov embarked on his pro MMA career in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he reflects on how his clan's life has changed since moving to England from Dagestan eight years ago. "I love it here," the Professional Fighters League athlete states. "We frequently remark, 'this is the nation I ought to have been born in.'" The 21-year-old departed his homeland in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father believed a move covering more than 3,000 miles promised superior professional prospects for him and his brothers. The initial plan was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to finish school before enrolling in one of the nation's universities. However, reality has turned out quite distinct for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a professional mixed martial arts athlete and is viewed as one of the prime prospects in the PFL, a leading MMA league. His siblings have taken a different route in athletics and have all been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a spot in the first team. "Our key thing for us is to extract everything out of our chosen fields," explains Ibragim. "I hope them to represent all of the finest teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a another team." From Grapplers to Soccer Prodigies Three of Ibragim's brothers, featuring Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Located in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mystical reputation among fight enthusiasts for producing a host of UFC titleholders in the past few years. The region has a rich history in wrestling, excelling in the combat sambo discipline and creating numerous Olympic and world winners. This success is not a coincidence, though, as children from the region are frequently encouraged to begin fighting, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk. "As a a kid, my dad was always instructing me and my younger brothers that we needed to be powerful, first to protect ourselves, your relatives, and your companions," says Ibragim. "Therefore we all became accustomed to combat, and that's why everyone knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise." "Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can see the move from wrestling to football; obviously, it benefited my younger brothers a great deal." "Some of the players he faces lack the same foundation he has. That's why he's stocky, strong and incredibly competitive – due to wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was put through his paces at Sheffield United. Not knowing of his actual age, coaches grouped him with boys significantly older. He was not intimidated by the oversight and was perfectly capable competing against older players because of his experience in wrestling. "They thought Amir and I were the identical age, apparently," says Ibragim. Amir was signed, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The clan's stay in South Yorkshire was short-lived, however, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he transferred across the Pennines consequently. "They played Manchester United in a tournament and Amir scored a spectacular free-kick," says Ibragim. "One of their scouts saw him play and picked him immediately." Six years after signing for the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir was one of the youngest players in the club's history to train with the first team when he did so in April 2023. "Do you know what he said to me? 'Here is where I belong'," Ibragim reveals. "Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Absolutely. They need to allow all the youthful players play right now." "I don't think they would play worse than the current first-team players. I believe the young guys are more motivated 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 kid is talented," continues Ibragim. "He learned every skill faster than everyone else. He's a solid defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'The Dream' to Compete at Old Trafford Ibragimov has been working out with the Nurmagomedovs – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has now relocated to Manchester and dedicates most of his days honing his MMA skills at a local gym. In August, he passed three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev get ready for a November UFC championship bout. "I never have imagined I would be learning 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." Fresh from working with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim says he is eager to win a world title of his own someday. However that does not stop him from sometimes fantasizing of playing for United and stepping out on the historic turf at Old Trafford, similar to his brothers. "I owned a PlayStation at home and I always used to play as Man United, scoring with legendary players," he recalls. "Today, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's like a fantasy realized." "An event at Old Trafford? It's a ambition for me. I was discussing with the PFL officials about it to see if they would make it happen. It would be huge."
Ibragim Ibragimov embarked on his pro MMA career in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he reflects on how his clan's life has changed since moving to England from Dagestan eight years ago. "I love it here," the Professional Fighters League athlete states. "We frequently remark, 'this is the nation I ought to have been born in.'" The 21-year-old departed his homeland in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father believed a move covering more than 3,000 miles promised superior professional prospects for him and his brothers. The initial plan was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to finish school before enrolling in one of the nation's universities. However, reality has turned out quite distinct for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a professional mixed martial arts athlete and is viewed as one of the prime prospects in the PFL, a leading MMA league. His siblings have taken a different route in athletics and have all been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir vying for a spot in the first team. "Our key thing for us is to extract everything out of our chosen fields," explains Ibragim. "I hope them to represent all of the finest teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a another team." From Grapplers to Soccer Prodigies Three of Ibragim's brothers, featuring Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Located in the south of Russia, Dagestan has a mystical reputation among fight enthusiasts for producing a host of UFC titleholders in the past few years. The region has a rich history in wrestling, excelling in the combat sambo discipline and creating numerous Olympic and world winners. This success is not a coincidence, though, as children from the region are frequently encouraged to begin fighting, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk. "As a a kid, my dad was always instructing me and my younger brothers that we needed to be powerful, first to protect ourselves, your relatives, and your companions," says Ibragim. "Therefore we all became accustomed to combat, and that's why everyone knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise." "Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can see the move from wrestling to football; obviously, it benefited my younger brothers a great deal." "Some of the players he faces lack the same foundation he has. That's why he's stocky, strong and incredibly competitive – due to wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was put through his paces at Sheffield United. Not knowing of his actual age, coaches grouped him with boys significantly older. He was not intimidated by the oversight and was perfectly capable competing against older players because of his experience in wrestling. "They thought Amir and I were the identical age, apparently," says Ibragim. Amir was signed, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The clan's stay in South Yorkshire was short-lived, however, as only weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he transferred across the Pennines consequently. "They played Manchester United in a tournament and Amir scored a spectacular free-kick," says Ibragim. "One of their scouts saw him play and picked him immediately." Six years after signing for the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir was one of the youngest players in the club's history to train with the first team when he did so in April 2023. "Do you know what he said to me? 'Here is where I belong'," Ibragim reveals. "Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Absolutely. They need to allow all the youthful players play right now." "I don't think they would play worse than the current first-team players. I believe the young guys are more motivated 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 kid is talented," continues Ibragim. "He learned every skill faster than everyone else. He's a solid defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'The Dream' to Compete at Old Trafford Ibragimov has been working out with the Nurmagomedovs – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has now relocated to Manchester and dedicates most of his days honing his MMA skills at a local gym. In August, he passed three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev get ready for a November UFC championship bout. "I never have imagined I would be learning 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." Fresh from working with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim says he is eager to win a world title of his own someday. However that does not stop him from sometimes fantasizing of playing for United and stepping out on the historic turf at Old Trafford, similar to his brothers. "I owned a PlayStation at home and I always used to play as Man United, scoring with legendary players," he recalls. "Today, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's like a fantasy realized." "An event at Old Trafford? It's a ambition for me. I was discussing with the PFL officials about it to see if they would make it happen. It would be huge."