🔗 Share this article Those Siblings from the Dagestani Region Making Their Mark in Mixed Martial Arts and with Manchester United. Ibragim Ibragimov began his pro MMA career in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov breaks into a smile as he reflects on how his family's life has evolved since relocating to England from Dagestan eight years ago. "I am fond of it here," the Professional Fighters League competitor remarks. "We often comment, 'this is the country I ought to have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his home in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father believed a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles offered better professional prospects for him and his brothers. The initial idea was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to complete their education before joining one of the country's universities. However, life now looks quite different for the Ibragimov family. Ibragim is now a pro MMA athlete and is regarded as one of the prime prospects in the PFL, a prominent MMA organization. His brothers have taken a different path in athletics and have all been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a place in the senior squad. "The main thing for us is to squeeze the maximum from our chosen fields," says Ibragim. "I desire them to play for all of the top teams in the world. Now it is Man United, in the future it might be a different team." From Wrestlers to Soccer Prodigies Three of Ibragim's siblings, including Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan holds a mythical status among fight enthusiasts for producing a slew of UFC champions in recent years. The region has a rich history in grappling, thriving in the sambo style and creating a host of Olympic and world champions. This success is no accident, though, as youth from the region are often pushed to take up fighting, specifically wrestling, practically as soon as they can walk. "As a a kid, my dad was constantly telling me and my younger brothers that we had to be strong, firstly to protect yourself, your family, and your companions," says Ibragim. "So we all became accustomed to fighting, and which is why people knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can see the move from wrestling to football; obviously, it benefited my younger brothers a great deal." "Many of the footballers he comes up against lack the same foundation he possesses. That's why he's solid, powerful and really competitive – because of wrestling." Amir was just nine years old when he was put through his paces at Sheffield United. Unaware of his actual age, coaches placed 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," says Ibragim. Amir was recruited, along with Ibragim's little brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The family'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 faced Manchester United in a competition and Amir netted a brilliant free-kick," says Ibragim. "One of their scouts watched him play and selected him immediately." Half a dozen years after joining the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the youngest players in the club's history to practice with the senior side when he did so in April 2023. "Know what he told me? 'This is where I belong'," Ibragim says. "Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Absolutely. They need to let all the young players get game time right now." "I don't think they would play less effectively than the current first-team players. I think the youngsters are hungrier than the current first-team players." Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once part of the academy of Manchester City, have also made the move to Manchester United. "Gazik, this youngster is talented," adds Ibragim. "He picked up every skill quicker than everyone else. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'The Dream' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams Ibragimov has been training with the Nurmagomedov family – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has also moved to Manchester and spends most of his days honing his MMA abilities at Manchester Top Team. In August, he passed three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC title fight. "I would never have thought I would be learning under Khabib," Ibragim says. "He was the greatest fighter in the world – and we always used to look up to him when we were young." "Today, I'm here in his gym and training with Islam Makhachev." Recently working with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is desperate to win a world title of his own someday. But that does not prevent him from occasionally 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. "Now, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a fantasy realized." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a goal for me. I was speaking to the PFL guys about it to see if they could do it. It would be enormous."
Ibragim Ibragimov began his pro MMA career in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov breaks into a smile as he reflects on how his family's life has evolved since relocating to England from Dagestan eight years ago. "I am fond of it here," the Professional Fighters League competitor remarks. "We often comment, 'this is the country I ought to have been born in.'" The 21-year-old left his home in the Caucasus region of Russia as his father believed a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles offered better professional prospects for him and his brothers. The initial idea was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to complete their education before joining one of the country's universities. However, life now looks quite different for the Ibragimov family. Ibragim is now a pro MMA athlete and is regarded as one of the prime prospects in the PFL, a prominent MMA organization. His brothers have taken a different path in athletics and have all been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a place in the senior squad. "The main thing for us is to squeeze the maximum from our chosen fields," says Ibragim. "I desire them to play for all of the top teams in the world. Now it is Man United, in the future it might be a different team." From Wrestlers to Soccer Prodigies Three of Ibragim's siblings, including Amir (left), have been joined Manchester United. Situated in southern Russia, Dagestan holds a mythical status among fight enthusiasts for producing a slew of UFC champions in recent years. The region has a rich history in grappling, thriving in the sambo style and creating a host of Olympic and world champions. This success is no accident, though, as youth from the region are often pushed to take up fighting, specifically wrestling, practically as soon as they can walk. "As a a kid, my dad was constantly telling me and my younger brothers that we had to be strong, firstly to protect yourself, your family, and your companions," says Ibragim. "So we all became accustomed to fighting, and which is why people knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a highly skilled wrestler. You can see the move from wrestling to football; obviously, it benefited my younger brothers a great deal." "Many of the footballers he comes up against lack the same foundation he possesses. That's why he's solid, powerful and really competitive – because of wrestling." Amir was just nine years old when he was put through his paces at Sheffield United. Unaware of his actual age, coaches placed 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," says Ibragim. Amir was recruited, along with Ibragim's little brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The family'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 faced Manchester United in a competition and Amir netted a brilliant free-kick," says Ibragim. "One of their scouts watched him play and selected him immediately." Half a dozen years after joining the Old Trafford club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the youngest players in the club's history to practice with the senior side when he did so in April 2023. "Know what he told me? 'This is where I belong'," Ibragim says. "Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Absolutely. They need to let all the young players get game time right now." "I don't think they would play less effectively than the current first-team players. I think the youngsters are hungrier than the current first-team players." Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once part of the academy of Manchester City, have also made the move to Manchester United. "Gazik, this youngster is talented," adds Ibragim. "He picked up every skill quicker than everyone else. He's a good defender. He's going to be similar to a modern Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'The Dream' to Compete at the Theatre of Dreams Ibragimov has been training with the Nurmagomedov family – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has also moved to Manchester and spends most of his days honing his MMA abilities at Manchester Top Team. In August, he passed three weeks in his homeland at Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym, assisting Islam Makhachev get ready for a late-year UFC title fight. "I would never have thought I would be learning under Khabib," Ibragim says. "He was the greatest fighter in the world – and we always used to look up to him when we were young." "Today, I'm here in his gym and training with Islam Makhachev." Recently working with two UFC titleholders from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is desperate to win a world title of his own someday. But that does not prevent him from occasionally 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. "Now, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a fantasy realized." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a goal for me. I was speaking to the PFL guys about it to see if they could do it. It would be enormous."