🔗 Share this article Those Brothers from Dagestan Making Their Mark in Mixed Martial Arts and with Manchester United. Ibragim Ibragimov embarked on his professional MMA journey in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he reflects on how his family's life has changed since moving to England from Dagestan in 2017. "I am fond of it here," the PFL competitor declares. "We always comment, 'this is the country I should have been born in.'" The young man left his home in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father was convinced a move spanning 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 school before joining one of the country's universities. However, life has turned out somewhat distinct for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a pro mixed martial arts fighter and is seen as one of the leading talents in the PFL, a leading MMA organization. His brothers have taken a separate route in athletics and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a spot in the first team. "The main goal for us is to extract the maximum from our chosen fields," says Ibragim. "I desire them to play for all of the best teams in the world. Now it is Man United, in the future it might be a another team." Starting as Wrestlers to Football Talents Three of Ibragim's siblings, featuring Amir (left), have been signed by Manchester United. Situated in the south of Russia, Dagestan holds a mythical status among fight enthusiasts for producing a number of UFC titleholders in recent years. The area has a long tradition in grappling, excelling in the combat sambo discipline and producing a host of Olympic and world winners. This achievement is not a coincidence, however, as children from the region are frequently encouraged to begin fighting, particularly wrestling, practically as soon as they can walk. "As a a kid, my dad was constantly instructing me and my younger brothers that we had to be strong, firstly to protect yourself, your relatives, and your friends," says Ibragim. "Therefore we all got used to fighting, and that's why everyone understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a very good wrestler. You can observe the transition from wrestling to football; obviously, it helped my little brothers a lot." "Some of the players he faces lack the identical foundation he possesses. That's why he's stocky, powerful and really competitive – because of wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Not knowing of his actual age, coaches placed him with boys significantly older. He was unfazed by the oversight and was more than capable competing against older players because of his experience in wrestling. "They thought Amir and I were the identical age, apparently," remarks Ibragim. Amir was recruited, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The clan's time in South Yorkshire was brief, however, as only 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 brilliant free-kick," says Ibragim. "One of their talent spotters watched him play and picked him immediately." Half a dozen years after joining the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the most youthful players in the club's history to train with the senior side when he did so in April 2023. "Do you know what he said to me? 'This is where I should be'," Ibragim says. "Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They should allow all the young players get game time now." "In my opinion they would play less effectively than the existing first-team players. I believe the youngsters are more motivated than the current first-team players." Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once on the books of Manchester City, have also made the move to Manchester United. "Gazik, this youngster is talented," adds Ibragim. "He learned every skill faster than the others. He's a solid defender. He's going to be like a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'The Goal' to Fight at Old Trafford Ibragimov has been working out with the Nurmagomedov family – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has also moved to Manchester and dedicates 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, helping Islam Makhachev prepare for a late-year UFC title fight. "I never have thought I would be learning under Khabib," Ibragim admits. "He was the greatest fighter in the world – and we constantly used to idolize him when we were young." "Now, I'm here in his gym and training with 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 prevent him from sometimes dreaming of playing for United and stepping out on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, much like his brothers. "I owned a PlayStation at home and I always used to play as Man United, scoring goals with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he says. "Now, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's like a fantasy realized." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a ambition for me. I was discussing with the PFL officials about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be massive."
Ibragim Ibragimov embarked on his professional MMA journey in the year 2021. Ibragim Ibragimov grins as he reflects on how his family's life has changed since moving to England from Dagestan in 2017. "I am fond of it here," the PFL competitor declares. "We always comment, 'this is the country I should have been born in.'" The young man left his home in the North Caucasus of Russia as his father was convinced a move spanning 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 school before joining one of the country's universities. However, life has turned out somewhat distinct for the Ibragimov household. Ibragim is now a pro mixed martial arts fighter and is seen as one of the leading talents in the PFL, a leading MMA organization. His brothers have taken a separate route in athletics and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a spot in the first team. "The main goal for us is to extract the maximum from our chosen fields," says Ibragim. "I desire them to play for all of the best teams in the world. Now it is Man United, in the future it might be a another team." Starting as Wrestlers to Football Talents Three of Ibragim's siblings, featuring Amir (left), have been signed by Manchester United. Situated in the south of Russia, Dagestan holds a mythical status among fight enthusiasts for producing a number of UFC titleholders in recent years. The area has a long tradition in grappling, excelling in the combat sambo discipline and producing a host of Olympic and world winners. This achievement is not a coincidence, however, as children from the region are frequently encouraged to begin fighting, particularly wrestling, practically as soon as they can walk. "As a a kid, my dad was constantly instructing me and my younger brothers that we had to be strong, firstly to protect yourself, your relatives, and your friends," says Ibragim. "Therefore we all got used to fighting, and that's why everyone understands how to fight in Dagestan. It's unsurprising." "Amir was a very good wrestler. You can observe the transition from wrestling to football; obviously, it helped my little brothers a lot." "Some of the players he faces lack the identical foundation he possesses. That's why he's stocky, powerful and really competitive – because of wrestling." Amir was only nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Not knowing of his actual age, coaches placed him with boys significantly older. He was unfazed by the oversight and was more than capable competing against older players because of his experience in wrestling. "They thought Amir and I were the identical age, apparently," remarks Ibragim. Amir was recruited, along with Ibragim's younger brothers Gazik and Muhammad. The clan's time in South Yorkshire was brief, however, as only 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 brilliant free-kick," says Ibragim. "One of their talent spotters watched him play and picked him immediately." Half a dozen years after joining the Manchester United club and at the age of 15, Amir became one of the most youthful players in the club's history to train with the senior side when he did so in April 2023. "Do you know what he said to me? 'This is where I should be'," Ibragim says. "Is he able to be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They should allow all the young players get game time now." "In my opinion they would play less effectively than the existing first-team players. I believe the youngsters are more motivated than the current first-team players." Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the latter once on the books of Manchester City, have also made the move to Manchester United. "Gazik, this youngster is talented," adds Ibragim. "He learned every skill faster than the others. He's a solid defender. He's going to be like a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United." 'The Goal' to Fight at Old Trafford Ibragimov has been working out with the Nurmagomedov family – Usman (centre) and Khabib (right) in Dagestan. Ibragim has also moved to Manchester and dedicates 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, helping Islam Makhachev prepare for a late-year UFC title fight. "I never have thought I would be learning under Khabib," Ibragim admits. "He was the greatest fighter in the world – and we constantly used to idolize him when we were young." "Now, I'm here in his gym and training with 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 prevent him from sometimes dreaming of playing for United and stepping out on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, much like his brothers. "I owned a PlayStation at home and I always used to play as Man United, scoring goals with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez," he says. "Now, for my brothers to be Man United players, it's like a fantasy realized." "A fight at Old Trafford? It's a ambition for me. I was discussing with the PFL officials about it to see if they could make it happen. It would be massive."