Those Siblings from the Dagestani Region Excelling in MMA and at Manchester United.

Ibragim Ibragimov smiles as he thinks about how his family's life has transformed since moving to England from Dagestan eight years ago.

"I am fond of it here," the Professional Fighters League athlete declares.

"We always comment, 'this is the nation I ought to have been born in.'"

The young man departed his home in the Caucasus region of Russia because his father was convinced a move spanning more than 3,000 miles promised better professional opportunities for him and his brothers.

The original idea was for Ibragim and his three brothers – Amir (17), Gazik (16), and Muhammad (15) – to complete school before joining one of the country's colleges.

However, life now looks quite different for the Ibragimov family.

Ibragim is now a professional MMA athlete and is seen as one of the prime prospects in the PFL, a major MMA league.

His siblings have taken a different path in athletics and have each been signed by Manchester United – with Amir pushing for a spot in the first team.

"The primary goal for us is to extract everything out of our chosen fields," says Ibragim.

"I hope them to play for every one of the top teams in the world. Today it is Man United, in the future it might be a another team."

From Wrestlers to Football Prodigies

Located in the south of Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical reputation among fight fans for producing a host of UFC titleholders in recent years.

The area has a rich tradition in grappling, excelling in the combat sambo style and producing a host of Olympic and world champions.

This success is no accident, though, as children from the region are often pushed to take up fighting, particularly wrestling, practically as soon as they can stand.

"As a young, my dad was always telling me and my little brothers that we needed to be powerful, first to protect ourselves, your relatives, and your friends," says Ibragim.

"Therefore we all got used to fighting, and which is why people knows how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising."

"Amir was a very good wrestler. You can see the move from wrestling to football; obviously, it benefited my little brothers a great deal."

"Some of the players he comes up against don't have the same foundation he possesses. That's why he's stocky, powerful and really competitive – due to wrestling."

Amir was just nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Unaware of his real age, trainers grouped him with boys five years older.

He was not intimidated by the mistake and was perfectly capable holding his own against older players because of his experience in wrestling.

"They thought Amir and I were the identical age, apparently," says Ibragim.

Amir was recruited, together with Ibragim's little brothers Gazik and Muhammad.

The family's stay in South Yorkshire was short-lived, however, as just weeks after signing for the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's talent and he moved across the Pennines as a result.

"They played Manchester United in a competition and Amir scored a spectacular free-kick," recalls Ibragim.

"One of their scouts watched him play and picked him immediately."

Half a dozen 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.

"Know what he said to me? 'Here is where I belong'," Ibragim reveals.

"Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? 100%. They need to allow all the youthful players play right now."

"I don't think they would play less effectively than the current first-team players. I think the young guys are more motivated than the present squad members."

Since then, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once on the books of Manchester City, have likewise 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 like a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'The Dream' to Fight at the Theatre of Dreams

Ibragim has now relocated to Manchester and spends most of his days honing his MMA abilities 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 late-year 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 always used to idolize him when we were young."

"Today, I'm here in his gym and sparring alongside Islam Makhachev."

Recently working with two UFC champions from Dagestan, it is no surprise Ibragim states he is eager to win a world title of his own one day.

But that does not stop him from sometimes dreaming of representing United and walking 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 says.

"Now, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's similar to a fantasy realized."

"A fight at Old Trafford? It's a dream for me. I was speaking to the PFL guys about it to see if they would make it happen. It would be huge."