🔗 Share this article Those Brothers from the Dagestani Region Making Their Mark in Mixed Martial Arts and at Manchester United. Ibragim Ibragimov started his professional MMA journey in 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he considers how his family's life has transformed since moving to England from Dagestan a decade ago. "I am fond of it here," the PFL competitor states. "We often remark, 'this is the nation I should have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father believed a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles would provide better 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 complete their education before enrolling in one of the nation's universities. But, life has turned out slightly distinct for the Ibragimov family. Ibragim is now a pro mixed martial arts athlete and is regarded as one of the top talents in the PFL, a leading MMA organization. His siblings have chosen a separate route in sport and have each been signed by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a place in the senior squad. "The primary thing for us is to squeeze everything from our chosen fields," says Ibragim. "I hope them to represent every one of the top teams in the world. Now it is Man United, in the future it might be a another team." From Grapplers to Football Talents Three of Ibragim's siblings, including Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan has a mystical status among fight fans for generating a number of UFC champions in recent years. The region has a long tradition in grappling, thriving in the sambo style and creating a host of Olympic and world winners. This achievement is no accident, though, as children from the region are often pushed to begin combat sports, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can stand. "As a young, my dad was constantly instructing me and my little brothers that we needed to be powerful, firstly to defend ourselves, your relatives, and your friends," states Ibragim. "So we all got used to combat, and that's why everyone knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can see the transition from wrestling to football; obviously, it helped my younger brothers a lot." "Some of the players he comes up against don't have the identical base he has. That's why he's solid, strong and incredibly driven – due to wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was being tested 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 comfortable holding his own against older players because of his experience in wrestling. "They believed Amir and I were the identical age, so the story goes," remarks Ibragim. Amir was signed, together with Ibragim's little brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The clan's time in South Yorkshire was brief, though, as just weeks after joining the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he moved across the Pennines as a result. "They played Manchester United in a competition and Amir netted a spectacular free-kick," recalls Ibragim. "One of their scouts watched him play and selected him immediately." 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 train with the senior side when he did so in April 2023. "Do you know what he said to me? 'Here is where I should be'," Ibragim reveals. "Can he 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 less effectively than the existing first-team players. I believe the youngsters are hungrier than the current first-team players." Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the younger once part of the academy of Manchester City, have also transferred to Manchester United. "Gazik, this kid is talented," adds Ibragim. "He learned everything quicker than everyone else. He's a solid defender. He's going to be similar to a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'A Goal' to Fight at the Theatre of Dreams Ibragimov has been working out with the Nurmagomedov family – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has now moved to Manchester and spends most of his days sharpening 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 get ready for a November UFC championship bout. "I never have thought I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim says. "He was the greatest fighter in the world – and we constantly used to idolize him when we were young." "Today, I'm here in his gym and sparring alongside Islam Makhachev." Fresh from training with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim says he is desperate to win a world title of his own someday. However that does not stop him from occasionally dreaming of playing for United and stepping out on the historic turf at Old Trafford, much like his brothers. "I owned a PlayStation at home and I always used to play as Man United, scoring 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." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a dream for me. I was discussing with the PFL guys about it to see if they would make it happen. It would be enormous."
Ibragim Ibragimov started his professional MMA journey in 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he considers how his family's life has transformed since moving to England from Dagestan a decade ago. "I am fond of it here," the PFL competitor states. "We often remark, 'this is the nation I should have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his homeland in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father believed a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles would provide better 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 complete their education before enrolling in one of the nation's universities. But, life has turned out slightly distinct for the Ibragimov family. Ibragim is now a pro mixed martial arts athlete and is regarded as one of the top talents in the PFL, a leading MMA organization. His siblings have chosen a separate route in sport and have each been signed by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a place in the senior squad. "The primary thing for us is to squeeze everything from our chosen fields," says Ibragim. "I hope them to represent every one of the top teams in the world. Now it is Man United, in the future it might be a another team." From Grapplers to Football Talents Three of Ibragim's siblings, including Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan has a mystical status among fight fans for generating a number of UFC champions in recent years. The region has a long tradition in grappling, thriving in the sambo style and creating a host of Olympic and world winners. This achievement is no accident, though, as children from the region are often pushed to begin combat sports, particularly wrestling, almost as soon as they can stand. "As a young, my dad was constantly instructing me and my little brothers that we needed to be powerful, firstly to defend ourselves, your relatives, and your friends," states Ibragim. "So we all got used to combat, and that's why everyone knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can see the transition from wrestling to football; obviously, it helped my younger brothers a lot." "Some of the players he comes up against don't have the identical base he has. That's why he's solid, strong and incredibly driven – due to wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was being tested 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 comfortable holding his own against older players because of his experience in wrestling. "They believed Amir and I were the identical age, so the story goes," remarks Ibragim. Amir was signed, together with Ibragim's little brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The clan's time in South Yorkshire was brief, though, as just weeks after joining the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's ability and he moved across the Pennines as a result. "They played Manchester United in a competition and Amir netted a spectacular free-kick," recalls Ibragim. "One of their scouts watched him play and selected him immediately." 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 train with the senior side when he did so in April 2023. "Do you know what he said to me? 'Here is where I should be'," Ibragim reveals. "Can he 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 less effectively than the existing first-team players. I believe the youngsters are hungrier than the current first-team players." Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the younger once part of the academy of Manchester City, have also transferred to Manchester United. "Gazik, this kid is talented," adds Ibragim. "He learned everything quicker than everyone else. He's a solid defender. He's going to be similar to a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'A Goal' to Fight at the Theatre of Dreams Ibragimov has been working out with the Nurmagomedov family – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has now moved to Manchester and spends most of his days sharpening 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 get ready for a November UFC championship bout. "I never have thought I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim says. "He was the greatest fighter in the world – and we constantly used to idolize him when we were young." "Today, I'm here in his gym and sparring alongside Islam Makhachev." Fresh from training with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim says he is desperate to win a world title of his own someday. However that does not stop him from occasionally dreaming of playing for United and stepping out on the historic turf at Old Trafford, much like his brothers. "I owned a PlayStation at home and I always used to play as Man United, scoring 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." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a dream for me. I was discussing with the PFL guys about it to see if they would make it happen. It would be enormous."