🔗 Share this article Those Siblings from Dagestan Making Their Mark in Mixed Martial Arts and with Man Utd. Ibragim Ibragimov started his professional MMA career in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov breaks into a smile as he considers how his clan's life has transformed since moving to England from Dagestan in 2017. "I love it here," the PFL athlete remarks. "My father and I often comment, 'this was the nation I ought to have been born in.'" The young man left his homeland in the Caucasus region of Russia because his father was convinced a move covering more than 3,000 miles promised superior professional prospects for him and his siblings. The initial 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 nation's colleges. But, reality has turned out slightly different for the Ibragimov family. Ibragim is now a professional mixed martial arts athlete and is regarded as one of the top prospects in the PFL, a major MMA league. His siblings have chosen a different route in athletics and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir pushing for a place in the first team. "The primary goal for us is to squeeze the maximum from our sports," explains Ibragim. "I want them to play for all of the finest teams in the world. Today it is Man United, tomorrow it could be a different team." Starting as Grapplers to Soccer Prodigies Three of Ibragim's brothers, featuring Amir (left), have been signed by Manchester United. Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical reputation among combat sports enthusiasts for generating a slew of UFC titleholders in recent years. The area has a long history in grappling, thriving in the sambo style and producing a host of Olympic and world winners. This success is no accident, however, as children from the region are often encouraged to begin combat sports, particularly wrestling, practically 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 protect yourself, your relatives, and your friends," says Ibragim. "So we all became accustomed to combat, and which is why people understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise." "Amir was a excellent wrestler. You can observe the move from wrestling to football; obviously, it benefited my younger brothers a lot." "Some of the players he faces don't have the same foundation he has. That's why he's solid, strong and really 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 oversight and was more than comfortable competing against older players thanks to his background in wrestling. "They thought Amir and I were the identical age, apparently," says Ibragim. Amir was recruited, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The family's time in South Yorkshire was short-lived, though, as just weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's ability and he transferred over the Pennines as a result. "They played Manchester United in a tournament and Amir scored a spectacular free-kick," recalls Ibragim. "One of their scouts saw him play and selected him straight away." Six 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 practice with the senior side when he achieved this in April 2023. "Do you know what he said to me? 'This is where I belong'," Ibragim says. "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 worse than the current first-team players. I think the young guys are hungrier than the present first-team players." Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once on the books of Manchester City, have also made the move to Manchester United. "Gazik, this youngster is gifted," adds Ibragim. "He picked up every skill faster than everyone else. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'A Dream' to Fight at Old Trafford Ibragimov has been training with the Nurmagomedov family – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has also relocated to Manchester and spends most of his days honing his MMA abilities at a local gym. In August, he spent three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC championship bout. "I never have thought I would be learning under Khabib," Ibragim admits. "He was the best fighter in the world – and we constantly used to idolize him when we were growing up." "Today, I'm here in his gym and sparring alongside Islam Makhachev." Recently training with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is unsurprising Ibragim states he is desperate to claim a world title of his own someday. However that does not prevent him from sometimes fantasizing of representing 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 with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he says. "Today, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a dream come true." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a ambition for me. I was speaking to the PFL guys about it to see if they would make it happen. It would be enormous."
Ibragim Ibragimov started his professional MMA career in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov breaks into a smile as he considers how his clan's life has transformed since moving to England from Dagestan in 2017. "I love it here," the PFL athlete remarks. "My father and I often comment, 'this was the nation I ought to have been born in.'" The young man left his homeland in the Caucasus region of Russia because his father was convinced a move covering more than 3,000 miles promised superior professional prospects for him and his siblings. The initial 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 nation's colleges. But, reality has turned out slightly different for the Ibragimov family. Ibragim is now a professional mixed martial arts athlete and is regarded as one of the top prospects in the PFL, a major MMA league. His siblings have chosen a different route in athletics and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir pushing for a place in the first team. "The primary goal for us is to squeeze the maximum from our sports," explains Ibragim. "I want them to play for all of the finest teams in the world. Today it is Man United, tomorrow it could be a different team." Starting as Grapplers to Soccer Prodigies Three of Ibragim's brothers, featuring Amir (left), have been signed by Manchester United. Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical reputation among combat sports enthusiasts for generating a slew of UFC titleholders in recent years. The area has a long history in grappling, thriving in the sambo style and producing a host of Olympic and world winners. This success is no accident, however, as children from the region are often encouraged to begin combat sports, particularly wrestling, practically 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 protect yourself, your relatives, and your friends," says Ibragim. "So we all became accustomed to combat, and which is why people understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's not a surprise." "Amir was a excellent wrestler. You can observe the move from wrestling to football; obviously, it benefited my younger brothers a lot." "Some of the players he faces don't have the same foundation he has. That's why he's solid, strong and really 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 oversight and was more than comfortable competing against older players thanks to his background in wrestling. "They thought Amir and I were the identical age, apparently," says Ibragim. Amir was recruited, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The family's time in South Yorkshire was short-lived, though, as just weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United learned of Amir's ability and he transferred over the Pennines as a result. "They played Manchester United in a tournament and Amir scored a spectacular free-kick," recalls Ibragim. "One of their scouts saw him play and selected him straight away." Six 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 practice with the senior side when he achieved this in April 2023. "Do you know what he said to me? 'This is where I belong'," Ibragim says. "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 worse than the current first-team players. I think the young guys are hungrier than the present first-team players." Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once on the books of Manchester City, have also made the move to Manchester United. "Gazik, this youngster is gifted," adds Ibragim. "He picked up every skill faster than everyone else. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'A Dream' to Fight at Old Trafford Ibragimov has been training with the Nurmagomedov family – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has also relocated to Manchester and spends most of his days honing his MMA abilities at a local gym. In August, he spent three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC championship bout. "I never have thought I would be learning under Khabib," Ibragim admits. "He was the best fighter in the world – and we constantly used to idolize him when we were growing up." "Today, I'm here in his gym and sparring alongside Islam Makhachev." Recently training with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is unsurprising Ibragim states he is desperate to claim a world title of his own someday. However that does not prevent him from sometimes fantasizing of representing 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 with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he says. "Today, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a dream come true." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a ambition for me. I was speaking to the PFL guys about it to see if they would make it happen. It would be enormous."