The Brothers from the Dagestani Region Excelling in MMA and at Manchester United.

Ibragim Ibragimov breaks into a smile as he considers how his clan's life has changed since moving to England from Dagestan in 2017.

"I love it here," the PFL athlete states.

"We frequently 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 was convinced a relocation covering more than 3,000 miles would provide better professional opportunities for him and his siblings.

The original plan 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.

But, life now looks slightly distinct for the Ibragimov household.

Ibragim is now a professional MMA fighter and is seen as one of the leading talents in the PFL, a major MMA organization.

His brothers have chosen a separate route in sport and have each been contracted by Manchester United – with Amir aiming for a spot in the senior squad.

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

"I want them to represent every one of the best teams in the world. Now it is Man United, tomorrow it might be a different team."

From Wrestlers to Football Prodigies

Located in the south of Russia, Dagestan holds a mystical reputation among combat sports enthusiasts for producing a number of UFC titleholders in the past few years.

The region has a rich history in grappling, excelling in the combat sambo discipline and creating a host of Olympic and world champions.

This success is no accident, however, as youth from the region are frequently encouraged to take up fighting, specifically wrestling, almost as soon as they can walk.

"As a young, my dad was constantly instructing me and my little brothers that we needed to be powerful, first to protect ourselves, your family, and your friends," states Ibragim.

"Therefore we all got used to fighting, and that's why people 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 assisted my little brothers a lot."

"Some of the footballers he faces don't have the same foundation he possesses. That's why he's stocky, strong and incredibly driven – because of wrestling."

Amir was only nine years old when he was being tested at Sheffield United. Not knowing of his real age, trainers grouped him with boys five years older.

He was not intimidated by the oversight and was more than capable competing against older players thanks to his experience in wrestling.

"They believed Amir and I were the identical age, so the story goes," remarks Ibragim.

Amir was signed, along with Ibragim's little brothers Gazik and Muhammad.

The clan's stay in South Yorkshire was short-lived, however, as only weeks after joining the Blades, Manchester United became aware of Amir's talent and he transferred across the Pennines as a result.

"They played Manchester United in a tournament and Amir netted a brilliant free-kick," recalls Ibragim.

"One of their talent spotters saw him play and picked him immediately."

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 train with the first team when he did so in April 2023.

"Know what he told me? 'This is where I should be'," Ibragim says.

"Can he be a first-team player for Manchester United? Without a doubt. They need to let all the young players get game time right 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."

Following that, Gazik and Muhammad, the younger once part of the academy of Manchester City, have likewise made the move to Manchester United.

"Gazik, this youngster is gifted," adds Ibragim.

"He learned everything faster than everyone else. He's a good defender. He's going to be like a new Rio Ferdinand for Man United."

'The Goal' to Compete at Old Trafford

Ibragim has now relocated to Manchester and dedicates most of his days honing 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 prepare for a November UFC championship bout.

"I never have imagined I would be training under Khabib," Ibragim says.

"He was the best fighter in the world – and we constantly used to idolize him when we were young."

"Today, 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 desperate to win a world title of his own someday.

But that does not prevent him from occasionally fantasizing of playing for United and walking out on the hallowed turf at Old Trafford, similar to his brothers.

"I had 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.

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

"An event 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 huge."